The Manila Collegian Volume 27 Issues 12-13

NEWS 02 BOR

The Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines Manila Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 Tuesday | 04 february 2014

MORE INSIDE

Approves Reforms and Revisions CULTURE 08 Fool’s Gold EDITORIAL 14 Divide and Rule OPINION 15 Sunrise FEATURES 16 Constitutional Paradox

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 04 February 2014 | Tuesday 02 NEWS BOR approves STFAP reforms, UP Code revisions

Chem Eng’g lab fee hike to be implemented in UPD EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA AND ADOLF ENRIQUE SANTOS GONZALES During its 1294th meeting on December 13, the University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents (BOR) ratified the proposed amendments to Article 430 and 431 of the Revised University Code. The Board also approved the reforms in the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) and additional Chemical Engineering laboratory fees in UP Diliman.

Concealed Revisions The Articles 430 and 431 were among the three provisions of the Revised University Code that the UP Code Review Committee aimed to modify. The amended Article 430 states that students with unpaid loans will be informed together with their guardians about their due obligations, while Article 431 allows students with unpaid loans to attend classes while withholding necessary documents until the student loan is settled.

The Board did not pass the new version of Article 330, which ensures that only duly registered students may attend classes.

These revisions arose following Kristel Tejada’s death and the issuance of a policy dated April 12, 2013 which states that “No UP student shall be denied access to education due to financial incapacity.” The final version of the proposal was presented to the BOR by the President’s Advisory Council (PAC) on October 16.

Rehashed Reforms Meanwhile, in a vote of 7-2, the BOR granted the STFAP reform proposal, also known as the Socialized Tuition Scheme (STS), submitted by UP President Alfredo Pascual.

Among those who voted in favor were Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairman Patricia Licuanan, Faculty Regent Lourdes Abadingo, Congressman Roman Romulo, Alumni Regent Ponciano Rivera Jr., Malacanang-appointed Regent Magdaleno Albarracin Jr., Regent Gizela GonzalesMontinola, and Pascual himself. Student Regent Krista Melgarejo and Staff Regent Anna Razel Ramirez abstained.

Under the STS, the STFAP application will be simplified into two steps. The applicant is now only required to submit the declared household income and predicted family income rather than submitting the two with the applicant’s preferred bracket and special indicators. Furthermore, the basis of predicted income was reduced from 14 to only two pages and the constituent universities will now have the power to process the appeals instead of a system level committee.

In addition, a 30 percent increase on the gross income cut-offs was implemented due to rising inflation over the past years. Moreover, students in Bracket E2 will receive an increase of P 1,100 from their present P 2,400 monthly allowance. This can be in form of cash, meals, dormitory accommodation or any services provided by UP. Nevertheless, Pascual stated that the tuition fees will not correspondingly increase due to the raising of income cut-offs. Yet, students

who will fail to submit an STFAP Application will be automatically assigned to Bracket A. The STS will be officially implemented come AY 2014-2015. However, CHED had already disclosed plans of adopting UP’s STFAP and institutionalizing it in other state universities and colleges.

Added Burden Consequently, the Department of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering, UP Diliman will now charge additional laboratory and waste disposal fees following the Board’s approval of the increase proposal. Also, students will experience a 50% increase in laboratory fees and waste disposal fees.

Violation of the UP Charter Prior to December 13, an earlier meeting initially affirming the Board’s decisions was held on November 28. The said meeting’s legality was challenged by groups stating that the BOR violated Section 12(4) of the 2008 UP Charter which contains rules about the meeting’s proceedings and quorum.

University Code

Subsequently, only 5 out of 11 BOR members were present during the November 28 meeting, namely CHED Chairman Licuanan, UP President Pascual, Regent Albaraccin, Faculty Regent Abadingo, and Staff Regent Ramirez. According to the BOR secretary, Student Regent Melgarejo did not manage to attend the meeting due to an illness.

Nonetheless, Pascual later conceded that there was no quorum and had the Office of the Secretary of the University release a memorandum on December 3 stating that it was a mere discussion and all proceedings that took place were declared void.

Sectoral Opposition Conversely, student organizations and employee unions held an assembly outside Quezon Hall during the December 13 BOR meeting to challenge the Board’s decisions and to demand for genuine and studentbased reforms on various university and societal issues. The University Student Council (USC) of UP Diliman called for a more accessible education for UP students.

Former

Likewise, the Alliance of Contractual Employees (ACE) and All UP Workers Union appealed for the immediate regularization and benefits for all contractual employees.

ACE condemned the administration’s scheme of furthering the workers to other agencies rather than renewing their contracts.

The All UP Academic Employees Union also brought up the issue of the PerformanceBased Bonus (PBB) that was merited to selected employees. They added that the PBB causes division and unhealthy competition amongst employees.

Eventually, the decisions of the Board also met criticisms from the Student Regent. In a position paper released by the Office of the Student Regent (OSR), Melgarejo stressed that the STFAP contributes setbacks to students paying their tuition.

“Students are actually classified to check how much payment can be squeezed from them; and not for the administration to find out which students deserve free [or] lower tuition”, Melgarejo insisted.

Revised

Article 330

All students must be duly registered before they are allowed to attend classes. A student who A student who has not been fully is unable to pay the required tuition and other fees due to financial incapacity may apply for matriculated may attend classes, or only a loan for a loan from the Student Loan Board to compete registration. a limit of five sessions as authorized by the University Registrar or Dean.

The student’s parents and guardians will be notified about the debt, and will be given a full month to settle it.

Article 430

The indebt student will be barred from Students who are unable to settle their loan accounts with the Student loan board by the taking final examinations, receiving grades final due date shall be notified, together with their parents and/or guardians, of their past and enrolling for the next semester. due obligations.

Article 431

A student who has not been fully matriculated may attend classes, or only a limit of five sessions as authorized by the University Registrar or Dean.

In no instance shall a student who has unpaid loan obligations due to financial incapacity as tested to by his/her parent guardian or professor in an appeal endorsed by the concerned Dean and approved by the chancellor, be barred from registering for, and attending his/her required classes. However the said student shall have to settle his/her loan accounts in full as a condition for the release of his/her diploma, transcript of records, clearance, and other academic credentials.

TABLE 1: Comparison between the existing provisions in the Revised University Code and the resulting changes. (Source: Proposed Revision of Articles 330, 430 and 431 of the Revised University Code STS 2013)

Brackets

Present

Reformed

A

Over P1,000,000

Over P1,300,000

B

P500,001 to P1,000,000

P650,001 to P1,300,00

C

P250,000 to P500,001

P325,001 to P650,000

D

P135,000 toP250,000

P135,001 to P 325,000

E1

P80,001 to P135,000

P80,001 to P135,000

E2

P80,000 and below

P80,000 and below

TABLE 2: Comparison of the present Gross Income Cut-off and the proposed amendments. (Source: Proposed Socialized Tuition STS 2013)

Course

Lab Fee Increase

ChE 26 – Fundamentals of Programming for Chemical Engineers

From 0 to P850.00

ChE 124 – Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics Laboratory

From P500.00 to P1,000.00

ChE 135 – Process Engineering Laboratory

From P500.00 to P850.00

ChE 182 - Chemical Process Dynamics and Control

From 0 to P750.00

TABLE 3: Approved Laboratory Fee increases per course. (Source: Report of the Student Regent on the 1294th BOR meeting)

Course

Waste Disposal Fee

ChE 124 – Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics Laboratory

P45.00 per course

ChE 135 – Process Engineering Laboratory

P45.00 per course

ChE 143 – Chemical Engineering Research I

P80.00 per kilo (local treatment) P300.00 (export)

ChE 144 – Chemical engineering Research II

P80.00 per kilo (local treatment) P300.00 (export)

MS/PhD ChE

P80.00 per kilo (local treatment) P300.00 (export)

MS/PhD EgyE

P80.00 per kilo (local treatment) P300.00 (export)

MS/PhD EnE

P80.00 per kilo (local treatment) P300.00 (export)

TABLE 4: Approved Proposal for Waste Disposal Fees. (Source: Report of the Student Regent on the 1294th BOR meeting)

NEWS 03

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 Tuesday | 04 February 2014

COLLEGE BRIEFS The University of the Philippines Manila Lantern Parade, in partnership with the University Student Council Culture and Arts Committee, celebrated with the theme: “Pasko sa UP Manila: Kaisa sa Pagbangon Tungo sa Bagong Pag-asa” on December 17, 4 PM, at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) quadrangle.

The winners of the UPM Lantern Parade 2013 are as follows: 1st place goes to College of Medicine, 2nd place goes to College of Pharmacy, and the 3rd place goes to the College of Nursing. For the special awards, College of Public Health is dubbed as the ‘Most Creative Group,’ the ‘Most Colorful Group’ goes to the College of Dentistry, and the ‘Merriest Group’ is the College of Allied Medical Professions.

ORGANEWS

Missed the #Throwback recruitment of UP Adhere last semester? Now they are recruiting members again for the second semester with the theme #NoFaceSelfie. UP Adhere is accepting applicants until the end of January. For more information, visit their Facebook page or refer to their poster at the DAC. Inspired by Kythe-Ateneo’s external flagship campaign for pediatric cancer patients, the USC Health and Service Committee presents “I AM PGH (A Person Giving Hope): Share the Love!” an event for the pediatric cancer patients of the Philippine General Hospital on February 8, Saturday at Lapulapu Park, Luneta. The event shall feature performances such as song and dance numbers, storytelling, talks from child celebrities, and a booth fair for the young patients. You can be a part of the event by helping us. You can sponsor a bag, sponsor an expense, volunteer as a buddy or buy an I Am PGH Shirt. For more details, you can contact Louise at 09278516532.

Aquino Approves Philippine Orthopedic Center Privatization Health workers slam Aquino’s decision

GAYLE CALIANGA REYNA AND CARLO REY RESURRECCION MARTINEZ President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Chairman of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board, has approved the privatization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) on November 21, much to the dismay of health workers and labor unions.

The P5.69 billion privatization of the POC, the only public orthopedic hospital in the country, will use private capital to improve healthcare services and become the first public-private partnership (PPP) project in the health sector.

Under the said project, a new private POC will be built inside the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) compound in Quezon City, replacing the government-run POC in Banawe Street in the same city. Moreover, it will be renamed as "Center for Bone and Joint Diseases, Trauma, and Rehabilitation Medicine".

Privatized Healthcare The POC’s privatization was first announced in November 2012. Under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme, the winning bidder will be granted a contract to operate and maintain the POC for 25 years, with the option to renegotiate for another contract. Additionally, the winning bidder must shoulder P5.43 billion of the project’s total cost.

After the last bidding in June, the consortium of Megawide Construction Corporation and World Citi Incorporated was the only remain-

Subsequently, Louie Ferrer, chief officer of Megawide, claimed that the new 700-bed POC will provide 70 beds for indigents, 420 beds for PhilHealth members, and 210 beds for pay patients.

However, Sean Velchez, president of National Orthopedic Hospital Workers' Union - Alliance of Health Workers (NOHWU-AHW), claimed that Megawide’s only objective is to earn money.

“Public health service should not be turned into a business. Megawide has no business meddling in public health service provision.

For the people’s sake, Megawide should backoff from the POC PPP project,” Velchez said.

Patients, Health Workers Threatened Indignant hospital workers rallied in Quezon City on November 25 to decry Aquino's approval of the POC modernization project as it would displace hundreds of poor patients who are dependent on the free services currently provided by POC. Furthermore, Velchez said that under the bid bulletin, the cost of surgical implants and hospital charges such as processing fees for blood works and rehabilitation will be excluded from PhilHealth coverage and are thus out-of-pocket expenses for sponsored patients in general.

Moreover, Velchez condemned the bid bulletin which states that the project proponent is not obligated to service patients beyond the maximum utilization of the POC’s programs or services. This provision would enable the POC to refuse accommodation of additional patients and instead refer or transfer them to another Department of Health (DOH) operated facility.

Additionally, Velchez pointed out that government hospitals are not allowed to refuse treatment for indigent patients.

Similarly, the project is also seen as a threat to the tenure of POC’s health workers. According to the POC’s staff, employment under the new management results in the loss of benefits such as laundry allowance,longevity pay, and hazard pay.

On the other hand, DOH stated that all POC staff may decide to either continue working under the new management or transfer to another government-run hospital.

Continuing Protests Emma Manuel, President Emeritus of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), also added that an 'insensitive' government can give no greater blow to the suffering people than to privatize the only public orthopedic hospital where the poor visit for treatment.

Continued on page 05

NCR private workers receive P15 wage hike Price increases offset wage hike EZRA KRISTINA OSTAYA BAYALAN Starting January 1, the minimum wage of private sector workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) increased after adding P15 from the existing P30 Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). The minimum wage of private sector workers is now P466, which is composed of the P451 basic pay and P15 increase in COLA. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Rosalina Dimapilis-Baldoz reminded private sector employers in the NCR to comply with the wage increase as provided under Wage Order NCR-No. 18.

read and download MKule issues at issuu.com/ manilacollegian

ing bidder for the privatization of POC out of the original ten.

“Wage Order NCR-No.18 provides for a P10 additional pay effective 1 October 2013, and the integration to the basic pay of the P15 of the existing P30 COLA provided under Wage Order NCR-No. 17, which took effect on 1 January 2014,” Baldoz stated.

“The integration of the P15 COLA to the basic pay translates to a P330 increase in the minimum monthly basic pay of NCR workers.

It also means an increase in minimum wage earners' 13th month pay, overtime pay, night shift differential pay, and other statutory benefits because the integrated P15 COLA is included in the computation of these benefits,” Baldoz added.

The increase shall apply to all minimum wage

earners in the NCR regardless of their position, designation, or status employment, and is unrelated to the method by which they are paid.

However, excluded from the wage increase are household service or domestic helpers, persons in the personal service of another, including family drivers; and workers of duly-registered Barangay Micro Business Enterprises with Certificates of Authority.

Apart from this, the wage order also indicates that workers who are paid as a result of piecework, “takay”, “pakyaw”, or task basis are permitted to receive the prescribed minimum wage per eight hours of work per day, or a proportion for those who have worked under eight hours.

“Cheap Trick” Malacañang defended the P15 wage hike despite criticisms that the amount was not enough for a family to live decently.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the increase was decided upon after due consultation with the balanced interests of both employees and employers.

“Inasmuch as the government wanted the workers to bring home bigger pay, the state of

the company or the employers must also be assessed and considered,” Valte said.

“Let us imagine if they give a really big pay hike, the employers might be the ones forced to close shop because they could not afford the salaries of workers. So it’s always a delicate balance that has to be considered in these cases,” Valte added.

Nonetheless, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) disapproved of the Wage Order NCR-18, stating that it was not a wage increase, but rather, a “cheap trick” to make workers accept the increase of prices and goods.

In an online statement from KMU’s site, they stated that, “We want to make it clear, that the Wage Order NCR-18 could not be considered as a wage hike. It is merely a trick of transferring workers’ money from their left pocket to the right. It is a desperate attempt to pour cold water over Filipino workers’ rage against the Aquino government’s unwillingness to stop the price and rate hikes.”

“The minimum wage for NCR workers remain at P466 since the implementation of the P10 hike in September 2013. A far cry from the Family Living Wage in NCR which, according to independent think-tank Ibon Foundation, is pegged at P1,051/day as of August 2013.”

Continued on page 05

04 NEWS

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 04 February 2014 | Tuesday

2 anti-mining activists killed by military’—Karapatan RONILO RAYMUNDO MESA Two anti-mining activists were shot dead by alleged government troops in two separate incidents in Compostela Valley this month and December last year, a human rights group reported.

According to Karapatan, Marcelo Monterona, a resident of barangay Elizalde in Maco town, was killed by unidentified gunmen while repairing his multicab jeepney outside his home at around 12 noon last January 3.

Monterona, 41, was a council member of Indug Kautawan (People Uprise), a group of typhoon Pablo survivors.

Hanimay Suazo, secretary-general of Karapatan-Southern Mindanao, said that Monterona “was known to be an active environment and human rights defender in the community.”

According to Suazo, Monterona was among the Indug Kautawan members who campaigned for Apex Mining Company to pay reparation to the victims of typhoon Pablo in Maco. Indug Kautawan believed that the company’s operation aggravated flooding caused by the December 2012 typhoon.

In addition, the secretary-general said the Monterona also called for justice for the death of his neighbor, Pedro Tinga, who was allegedly killed by military men last December.

A report from Bagong Alyansang MakabayanSouthern Mindanao said that Monterona’s

wife believes that the 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army operating in their area is behind the killing of her husband.

Suazo added that the leader has received threats from elements of the 71st IB because of his active human rights work. She also mentioned that Monterona demanded for the pullout of the said battalion in the area.

False Accusation Meanwhile, Tinga, a 57-year-old Mansaka tribal leader, was shot dead in an operation by the said battalion last December 6 on Maco.

The leader, who is also a council member of Indug Kautawan, “sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the frontal area of his body that caused his death,” Karapatan said.

The protesters also demanded the government’s accountability and transparency on the release of aid donations to the typhoon-stricken communities.

Likewise, demonstrations were simultaneously held in some provinces in the Visayas region.

The Yolanda survivors in Iloilo City held a candle-lighting protest at the city’s main intersection. Protesters in Capiz and Aklan stormed their respective provincial capitols to denounce the abandonment of the Aquino administration.

In a press release, Bayan-Capiz spokesperson Kashmer Diestro stated that it is the continuous negligence of the Aquino regime, rather than the suffering from the

SCAM?

I can't answer because I don't know what he said - Codename Xtra-Guy, *****, CAS "Evidences speak louder than words." Umamin ka na kase, letse lang. Dame mong arte. - JessyM, Polsay, CAS Let's not kill the karma let's not start a fight it's not worth the drama for a beautiful liar << hahahaha kanta yan (pero kung di mo alam wag nalang) - grumpycat, 2013 orcom para cool (pero bio talaga ako HAHA) Kap's amazing stories!!! - Pia Kriezl J. Hernandez, 2012-xxxxx, BA Orcom, CAS

no. - grumpycat, 2013 orcom para cool (pero bio talaga ako HAHA) Go away, Anna. - Pia Kriezl J. Hernandez, 2012-xxxxx, BA Orcom, CAS SnowWoman ang gagawin ko. Kulay violet. - Paul “itik all” Signs, BAPS CAS Sige, hanap ka muna ng snow, kailangan galing sa pinas ha. -*insertwittycodenamehere*, 2011, CAS Nobody says not to building a snowman. -Tobias, 2012-2x8x2, CAS Yes. Kasi we used to be best buddies and now we're not. I wish she would tell me why. :| :))))))) GraduatingStudent , 2010-02662, CAS

Nakapagtataka. May makukuha ba syang Acting Award sa ginawa nyang yun? Nag-effort pa eh, dapat tipong pangMMFF with matching CGI effects para cool. ^.^ - Paul “itik all” Signs BAPS CAS

No. Gusto ko snowperson. Para gender neutral. Keith BA Polsci.

Sino na ba ang papaniwalaan -*insertwittycodenamehere*, 2011, CAS

natin?

Of course I would like to. Unfortunately, there is no snow. - Queen G. , CM 2013-2*30*

Captain Albert Caber, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Eastern Mindanao Command, had earlier claimed that Tinga, an alleged New People’s Army (NPA) member, was killed during an encounter along with three other NPA members.

Continued on page 05

Much lies. Such acting. Panday. Wow. -Tobias, 2012-2x8x2, CAS

Nope. Kasi pinapaalala lang ng snow kung gaano kalamig ang feelings niya para sa akin. Charoth.

-superhero ng ermita

RONILO RAYMUNDO MESA

In a rally staged outside Aquino’s residence in Times Street, Yolanda victims and militant groups led by Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), Tindog Network, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan criticized the administration’s flawed relief and rehabilitation operations.

ANO ANG MASASABI MO SA TAHASANG 1KANYANG PAGTANGGI NI SEN. BONG REVILLA SA PAGKAKASANGKOT SA PDAF

Pwede ring ipadala ang inyong mga sagot sa pamamagitan ng pag-text sa 09069447782!

(Pero bawal ang textmate!)

Tinga is also among the Indug Kautawan members who campaigned against the operation of Apex Mining, Karapatan added.

The aforementioned human rights group also reported that Tinga’s body was hidden by soldiers in a funeral parlor in a nearby town, and was only found by the slain leader’s neighbors a day after Tinga was killed.

Yolanda victims stage protest over gov’t inaction, slow assistance Marking the two months after the super typhoon Yolanda hit the Visayas region, hundreds of Yolanda survivors held a protest on January 8 to condemn President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s alleged failure to provide immediate and adequate support to the typhoon victims.

ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA

wrath of Yolanda, that kills the victims. He also questioned the hampered utilization of foreign grants and the financial aid that should supposedly help the Yolanda victims as promised by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

T*ngina mo Bong. Tigas ng mukha mong tarantado ka. - Keith BA Polsci.

It's part of his Kap's Amazing Game Plans.

-Unicorn, 2012, CAS

Yes. And I want warm hugs. :)))))) -Unicorn, 2012, CAS

Yes, who doesn't want to build a snow man? The problem now is, can you build a snow man <//3 -ThreeFoursTwoZeros, 2013

I'm looking forward for more of Kap's Amazing Stories - Queen G. , CM 2013-2*30*

Want does not mean should. Ayokong lumala ung global warming to the point na pati sa Pilipinas ay may nyebe. Huhu. -Aromaticity, 2012-04895, CAS

Daming dalang readings sa senado nung nagspeech si bong. daming time. well, marami silang time ni pnoy para magbangayan. hanap na lang sila bulalo sa Cuevas. Tapos sali sila dun sa Selfie Contest ng Hotel Sogo. -superhero ng ermita

Yes, because the cold never bothered me anyway. *makes hagis of gloves and tanggal the kapa* -Raseac | 2010-33377 | BS Pharmacy

Hindi pelikula ang PDAF scam, tama na acting.

-ThreeFoursTwoZeros, 2013

No, I do not want to build a snowman, kasi malamig sa labas tuwing umaga -Kaibigan ni Poging taga CAS, CAS

Bigyan ng Award for Best Acting. - Aromaticity, 2012-04895, CAS

Kahit hindi na, dahil iKh@w LhAngSxz, sZapfhAt nAh! -ur body - mmx+

According to Maura Abellon, chair of Kadamay-Panay and Guimaras, hundreds of thousands of the typhoon victims are currently living in evacuation centers, tents, and streets with no jobs, food, and medicine.

Some residents cannot return to their communities because these were declared off-limits by the government. Furthermore, the rehabilitation programs on establishments remain ‘snail-paced’ while relief efforts remain unsystematic.

Marami nagsasabi na gagamitin daw niya yung pera para sa 2016 elections. So based on that, I think that he should worry more about being trustworthy than funding campaigns before he even thinks about running for higher office.

-Kaibigan ni Poging taga CAS, CAS

Come on let's go and play =)) -aji, comsci, cas, 2011

“The longer the assistance reaches the victims, the heavier the burden on already impoverished residents. They are becoming victims for the second time,” Abellon told the media.

Idol ko si kap! Not. - lalalakunwaricodename, cas Parang crush lang. Habang lalo mong dine-deny, mas lalo lang napaghahalataang totoong meron nga talaga. - Syren, 2013-0xxx3, CD

The government has already announced that the distribution of relief packs will end on March 31. However, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte assured that victims will still receive assistance once the Department of Social Welfare and Development finished evaluating their situations.

Continued on page 05

#DenyLang. -ur body - mmx+

No. Snow angel gusto ko -lalalakunwaricodename, cas G AKO TO BUILD A SNOWMAN. Then watch it melt before my eyes. BWAHAHAHAHA. -Syren, 2013-0xxx3, CD

Ang masasabi ko lang, #denylang. - aji, comsci, cas, 2011

DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN? 2EXPLAIN. Yes, because I never see you anymore, come out the door, it's like you've gone awaaaay. Codename Xtra-Guy, *****, CAS Gusto ko sana, kaso baka matunaw lang eh.

Huehue =)) ...hot ko kase (loljkjk) - JessyM, Polsay, CAS

Tell me your sumvong.

https://www.facebook. com/pages/Lola-Patola/

NEWS 05

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 Tuesday | 04 February 2014

SC halts Meralco hike for 60 days

Energy regulators, power firms to be investigated LEONARD DANGCA JAVIER The Supreme Court issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) power rate increase of P4.15-per-kilowatthour (kWh) last December 23. This is after Meralco proposed for an increase in electricity rate to be implemented on December 2013 and February and March 2014.

Temporary Relief “Effective immediately and for a period of 60 days, respondent Meralco, its agents, and representatives are hereby enjoined from increasing the rates it charges to its customers based on the matters it raised in its December 5, 2013 letter,” the decision read.

Following the TRO, Meralco’s generation charge is now pegged at P5.67 per kWh. The SC decision to stop the power increase came about following the recommendations from two consolidated petitions.

The first petition was filed on December 19 by representatives of Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and ACT Teachers condemning the recordhigh price hike of Meralco. The other petition was by the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore) and the Federation of Las Piñas Homeowners Association also seeking the Court's intervention.

Even after the TRO, a third petition praying for the permanent injunction of the unjust power hike was filed by Anakpawis on December 27.

The SC scheduled the oral arguments for the power hike on January 21.

Under Scrutiny POC PRIVATIZATION / FROM PAGE 03

Likewise, according to Ricardo Antonio, Public Relations Officer of NOHWU-AHW, the decision was an ‘injustice’ to Filipinos; 'done like a thief in the night' while the people were busy helping out typhoon victims.

Consequently, on January 9, SC ordered the petitioners to include the Department of Energy (DOE), ERC and six independent power producers as respondents in the case.

SC Spokesperson Theordore Te said the high tribunal mandated the petitioners to implead as “necessary parties” Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), SEM-Calaca Power Corp., Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd., Therma Luzon Inc., San Miguel Energy Corp., South Premiere Power Corp. and Therma Mobile Inc. The high court also ordered DOE and ERC to submit their comments on the rate increase and attend the oral arguments. This is to answer the petition allegations including claims of ERC’s collusion with power firms and the unconstitutional approval of generation cost increase.

Prior to SC’s directive, ERC said it would investigate the power distributors and generators on the price increase. This was in contrast to its earlier approval of the power rate increase.

Consumer Burden On the other hand, Meralco justified that the said rate hike was due to the Malampaya shutdown and their consumption of a more expensive power supply. In their consolidated comment with counter petition, Meralco wrote that they would comply with the SC decision but fears that generation companies may now refuse to sell electricity to them.

They then warned that massive blackouts may be soon be experienced.

“This is only a partial victory. We still have to continue to fight for the consumers’ rights so this unprecendented and just TROed increase could totally be nullified, as well as the culprit provisions of Epira,” Zarate asserted.

YOLANDA VICTIMS STAGE PROTEST / FROM PAGE 04

However, NPA’s Comval-Davao Gulf SubCommand refuted in a statement that Tinga’s death has nothing to do with the rebel group’s encounter with military men.

Meanwhile, a petition was initiated by the Yolanda victims in Tacloban calling for the government to provide immediate financial assistance. The petition, filed by Alyansa han mga Biktima han Bagyo Yolanda ha Tacloban (ABBAT), demands for the Aquino regime to provide P 40,000 to every affected family before February 14, 2014.

Furthermore, the statement added that the “blatant cover-up” manifests “AFP’s character as harbinger of injustice and implementer of the hideous policy of neutralization under the Oplan Bayanihan.”

“We demand the immediate legislation of the P125 across-the-board nationwide wage hike bill, which was recently refiled as House Bill 253 by Anakpawis Partylist.” Kilusang Mayo Uno added.

Likewise, petitioners Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio hailed the decision, though they stated that there is much yet to be done.

ACTIVISTS KILLED BY MILITRY / FROM PAGE 04

Finally, Velchez said that NOHWU-AHW will stage a Black Christmas to protest against the privatization of government hospitals.

The group also vowed to storm the offices of Megawide Corp., the PPP center, DOH, and Malacañang in the coming weeks to demand the termination of the project.

Apart from this, KMU also stated that the P15 increase is useless in the face of numerous price hikes in energy, an increase in contribution of SSS and PhilHealth premiums, and the P15 price increase in LRT and MRT.

Subsequently, President Benigno Aquino III ordered the Presidential Communications Operations Office to initiate a public information campaign to explain to consumers how the deregulated power industry operates.

Nevertheless, different militant groups and lawmakers welcomed the high tribunal’s decision. Sen. Francis Escudero said this would help SC solve the mystery of simultaneous Malampaya shutdowns while Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said the ruling indicated that public complaints against the “unjust increase” in the power rate are legally backed.

Meralco also announced a staggering P8 per kilowatt-hour increase in generation charges though it will not be implemented yet given

“There is no truth to the preposterous claim … that ‘in their Bayanihan, they (AFP Eastern Mindanao Command) have prevailed against the NPA’ by killing 4 NPA guerillas,” the statement said.

KMU added in their statement.

The Malacanang already expressed its reluctance on the SC decision, saying there is no sufficient basis to suspend the power rate increase. Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. affirmed that present rules like Electric Power Reform Industry Act (EPIRA) allow power firms like Meralco to automatically pass on charges to consumers.

Moreover, they slammed the Meralco for threatening the consumers with blackouts, saying the distribution companies are just trying to blackmail the consumers to accept the power rate increase to avoid the supposed blackouts.

"The typhoon survivors are suffering because of the government’s slow response; the Aquino government was just busy privatizing our hospital! What kind of government would do this to its citizens?” added Antonio.

WORKERS RECEIVE WAGE HIKE / FROM PAGE 03

the TRO.

A local official, moreover, debunked the allegation that the tribal leader was associated with the NPA. “I can testify that he is a civilian, I lived here since 1967 up to now. The community knows him, he is a good person, and has no enemies,” Edgardo Reambonanza, barangay captain of Malamodao, said in Bisaya.

Tinga is the 26th victim of extra-judicial killing (EJK) in southern Mindanao under the Oplan Bayanihan counter-insurgency program of the Aquino administration, while Monterona is the 27th and the first victim of EJK this 2014, according to Karapatan.

The petition also calls for the immediate rehabilitation of hospitals and schools, repair of roads and bridges, and the restoration of electricity.

According to the petitioners, the said amount will serve as a temporary relief for their necessities on food, clothing, housing, medicine, and education. However, they believe that the monetary aid will hardly compensate for their needs as the prices of commodities surge in typhoon-ravaged areas due to lack of government intervention.

Nonetheless, as of January 10, ABBAT has already gathered more than 10,000 signatures from Tacloban and nearby cities.

SUNSET* / FROM PAGE 15

you are beyond what I need. And for that, I couldn’t thank you enough, SJ. *A day would not be complete without the sunset. You complete me.

NBSU* / MULA SA PAHINA 15

Sa madaling salita, wala talaga akong paki kung may boyfriend ako ngayon o wala. Hindi ako bitter, hindi ako manhid, hindi ako selfish, hindi ako duwag, hindi ako nagrereklamo. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko, at siguro naman ay darating din ang panahon na makikilala ko siya, pero hindi naman sa pagkakaroon ng kasintahan umiikot ang mundo. May mga bagay na mas nangangailangan ng pansin: pag-aaral, pamilya, mga kaibigan, mga pangarap, at mga oportunidad na makabubuti para sa atin. Hindi boyfriend, bilang ng tagahanga, bilang ng relasyon, o bilang ng posts patungkol sayo sa UPM Files ang nagdidikta kung ano ang kakayahan mo, kung ano ang potensiyal mo at kung sino ka. Sarili mo lang naman ang makapagpapatunay at makapagbibigay-kahulugan sa sarili mong pagkatao. *No Boyfriend Since UP

09

PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE / FROM PAGE

The 2-hectare lot was donated by the Leyte Provincial Government.

The future seems bright, yet progress is slow.

According to Dean Destura, “Preparatory activities such as putting land fill in the new site will be coordinated this January 2014.” By this time, the students should have had only one month left to graduate. Funding for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the SHS Palo campus will come from donors, which include the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA) and the Saku Central Hospital from Japan.

Funding for these extension campuses have been left to the hands of donors and sponsors. The administration, by itself, cannot support these campuses not only because of insufficient budget, but also because it has chosen to remain passive in lobbying for higher state subsidy.

To experience such a catastrophe is very traumatic. But to be abandoned by the university administration is much appalling, especially that these students have pledged not to abandon their country but to always give back and serve the people.

The plight of the students in SHS Palo is not a mere state abandonment; this is oppression. This is injustice.

The murderous disaster was not introduced by the ‘super typhoon’. It was already ingrained in the roots of the system forcefully pulling the university down to its grave. It is the system itself that perpetrates injustice.

But the fight has not been lost. Every Iskolar ng Bayan has the intellect to offer and loyalty to pledge- in the service of the people. The government might have already abandoned its duties and the UP administration might have already forgotten its mandate but the Iskolar does not. An Iskolar ng Bayan would always be on the forefront of the fight for a genuine, accessible, and quality education that will always be partial to the interests of the masses.

06 NEWS

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 04 February 2014 | Tuesday

T

HE GOVERNMENT FOUND ITSELF KNEE-DEEP IN ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES as the country entered the midterm of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in 2013. Ironically, the issues on graft and corruption, bribery, ‘trapo’ politics, political dynasties, and impunity in human rights violations, were the same ones it tried to blame on the previous administration.

Backed up by filtered reports from the dominant media, the government’s tactic of not highlighting other significant and pressing societal issues is a reflection of its continuous negligence to serve the interests of the people and a blatant attempt to preserve the oppressive status quo.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY & MARCH

UP loses P380 million as additional income

Court absolves Acosta for lack of evidence

The Commission on Audit (COA) reported on its Annual Audit Report that the University of the Philippines (UP) could have earned P 201 million in interest income and saved P179 million in tax exemptions if it only used its autonomy as a national university. Also, earning from these tax breaks could have been used to fill the gaps from the series of budget cuts due to inadequate government support.

On February 5, Ericson Acosta, an activist and a writer, was released through the directives of the Calbayog Regional Trial Court in Samar due to lack of clear evidence for the charges filed against him.

According to Section 25 of the 2008 UP Charter, the University is exempted to pay taxes on all assets and revenue used for educational purposes. However, due to the absence of an Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) body, some objectives of the UP Charter were not implemented.

SC extends “Cybercrime Law” TRO On the 15th day of the same month, citizens rallied in front of the Supreme Court (SC) to appeal the extension of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act (CPA) as the TRO expires on February’s first week.

Following the protestors’ demand, the SC granted the CPA’s TRO extension on February 5. The said law was enacted on September 12, 2012 due to the need to address legal issues related to online interactions and cybercrime offenses.

JUNE & JULY Philex stockholders’ meeting faces protests On June 26, Kalikasan PNE, an environmental advocacy group, along with indigenous people from Benguet, stormed the stockholders’ meeting of Philex Mining Corporation in Crown Plaza Hotel, Ortigas.

The protesters criticized Philex mines in Cadcal, Benguet that contaminated the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam. They also demanded the company to compensate their affected livelihoods brought to them by the said mine spill.

Protesters also urged Philex’s stockholders to withdraw their investments on the said corporation and transfer it into businesses that are environment-friendly.

Aquino’s demolition schemes spark outrage Series of anti-demolition barricades were assembled by settlers on various communities in Manila including Bignay, Valenzuela City; Carmina Compound, Cupang and in Agham Road, Quezon City. The said barricades were assembled to delay the imminent demolition on the said communities. The barricades resulted to standoffs between the residents and the police officers.

According to Presidential Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang, the series of demolitions led by the current administration was to ensure safety to illegal settlers whenever typhoons are imminent. However, Joms Salvador, secretary general of Gabriela mentioned that the current administration only wanted to clear the waterways to give way to private businesses through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program, boasted by Aquino’s Administration.

MMDA chair Tolentino faces raps for CNA incentive abuse

Employees of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) held a protest action in front of the Office of the Ombudsman after filing a complaint against their administrator Francis Tolentino last July 16.

Tolentino was accused of his alleged refusal to grant the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive of MMDA workers. The CNA bonus, which grants each employee a total of P25, 000, was supposed to be distributed in 2011.

Moreover, Tess Gonzales, secretary general of Kapisanan ng mga Kawani ng MMDA, said that they are dismayed by the Aquino government’s lack of action to prioritize the rights of workers, “including their right to a decent salary and to their mandated benefits”.

According to the statement sent to the media, Acosta is in high spirits as he returns as a mass activist and cultural worker.

DSWD accused of Pablo-calamity fund bogus Survivors of the 2012 Typhoon Pablo demanded for the resignation of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Dinky Soliman because of her alleged blunder and corruption of the P18 Billion calamity fund.

The spokesperson of Barug Katawhan (BARUG), a group of Pablo survivors stated that the group was able to gather reports that DSWD personnel sell relief packs for P 200 to indigenous people in Davao Oriental.

Court convicts AFP for Burgos’ disappearance On March 27, the Court of Appeals convicted the Philippine Army as the lead suspect for the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, an activist. Two days after the court decision, Jonas’ family released a picture believed to be taken by military personnel who abducted him on April 28, 2007.

Furthermore, the family mentioned that the release of the said picture was to celebrate Jonas’ 43rd birthday. Five years since the kidnapping, Burgos’ whereabouts are still unknown despite of his family’s efforts to gather knowledge from the government and the AFP.

AUGUST Luisita Farmer groups hit DAR plans, land reform Farmers trooped to Hacienda Luisita during the 4th year anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) to denounce the ‘sham’ land reform program last August 7.

Earlier in July, farmers of the Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) also filed a contempt case against the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) regarding the distribution process of Hacienda Luisita lands. AMBALA questioned DAR’s plan to distribute only 4,099 hectares (ha) out of the 4,915 ha designated by the SC. The group also slammed the department’s refusal to heed farmworker-beneficiaries’ choice when it implemented a raffle system of land distribution which violates farmer rights to collective ownership.

Coco farmers protest misuse of levy fund On August 22, Coconut farmers from Bicol and Quezon provinces rallied from the Department of Agriculture to the residence of President Aquino at Times Square in Quezon City to decry the government’s plan to use the Coco Levy fund for the establishment of agro-industrial hubs. According to Willy Marbella, deputy secretary general of Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the so-called agro-industrial estate project will only benefit local and foreign agri-businesses at the expense of small coconut farmers.

NEWS 07

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 Tuesday | 04 February 2014

ALTERNATE REALITY APRIL

Exposing the issues disregarded by the mainstream media during 2013

GAYLE CALIANGA REYNA AND ADOLF ENRIQUE SANTOS GONZALES

MAY

Oppressed workers defies Pentagon Steel

On April 13, workers assembled a picket line and trooped outside the Pentagon Steel to demand the reinstatement of the jobs they lost due to unjust termination. They pressed for a wage increase, additional benefits, better working environment, and a new human resource manager.

Two days later, police attempted to break the strikers’ picket resulting into 6 injuries.

Protesters also mentioned police officers threatening them with pistols and stun guns.

After three months of picketing, Quezon City Police tried to break the strikers’ pickets on July 13 resulting to ten injuries and one death. Based on accounts, Carlos Yanez, a security guard of Pentagon steel, was hit by a speeding truck that was believed to be aimed at the protesters. The accident killed Yanez almost immediately and left another security guard on comatose.

Workers slam DOLE’s silence on labor issues On the eve of Labor Day, workers from Advan shoes, Philippine Journal, and Toyota Motors Inc. organized a protest in the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) main office to demand an end to contractualization. They also criticized DOLE’s silence on labor related cases and its non-implementation of SC’s decisions favorable to workers including wage hikes and additional retirement benefits.

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER

SSS premium hike, approved While confronting the accusations on the pork barrel’s misallocation and malversation of funds and amid an armed siege in Southern Philippines, President Aquino approved the 0.6 per cent increase in member’s contribution to the Social Security System (SSS), much to the opposition of members, workers, and labor unions.

According to Bayan Muna party list Rep. Neri Colmenares, with estimates amounting to a total of P390 billion, “SSS has figures which do not call for a premium increase”. Likewise, KMU said that the hike will be an added burden for workers suffering from low wages.

Large-scale mining, energy projects devastate Cordillera KMP and the Resistance and Solidarity Against Agrochemical TNCs (RESIST) held a forum at the University of the Philippines Diliman against the devastating effects of large-scale mining and energy projects in Cordillera Region. According to Beverly Longid, president of Katribu partylist, it is time for mining companies to stop corporate impunity and to hold them accountable for the destruction of the environment. Moreover, Longid added that the people of Cordillera demands for a new framework on the use of natural resources which should be for genuine national development.

NOVEMBER

Critics hit US agenda for humanitarian aid The United States (US) government deployed more than 5,000 troops to carry out relief operations in Yolanda-stricken areas. According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario, the military assistance from US ‘demonstrates the need’ for increased rotational presence of US troops in the country.

However, Kabataan party list Rep. Terry Ridon, along with other critics, denounced the socalled humanitarian aid extended by the US government. Ridon said that the real agenda was to promote US’s Asian pivot or the rebalancing of 60 percent of its forces to the Asia-Pacific region and to push for the signing of the framework agreement.

Likewise, typhoon victims also expressed their dismay over the slow and inept response from the Aquino administration during the aftermath of Yolanda.

POC privatization, approved On the other hand, while relief-operations were being carried out in typhoon-battered areas, President Aquino approved the privatization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) despite continuous protests that have started since 2012. The decision was met by angered health workers, health advocates, and anti-privatization groups who believe that the project would displace hundreds of poor patients and would deny them access to proper health care.

Experts suspect forged election results The month of May was inundated by issues challenging the reliability of the 2013 midterm polls. One issue highlighted was the 100 percent voter turnout in 70 precincts in ARMM which further raised suspicion on the 2013 midterm polls’ transparency.

Moreover, critics pinpointed the slow transmission of election results from regions where election officials were related to Virgilio Garcillano, a former COMELEC commissioner known for his 2004 “Hello Garci” scandal. Statistical experts also noticed that precincts follow a 60-30-10 pattern in favor of the current administration’s bets.

However, the attention given to the said pattern withered down because regional tallies did not reflect the said format.

Workers denounce Coca Cola’s inhumane work policies Two hundred workers of Coca Cola Bottler Philippines, majority of which were part of of the Unyon ng mga Manggagawang Driver, Forklift Operator at Picker sa Sta. Rosa Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc-Independent (UMDFP-CCBPI-IND), staged a protest on May 20 to criticize Coca Cola’s oppressive working conditions and reduced benefits due to contractualization. Protesters also stated that some workers toiled for 18 hours in the factory and that the company charges the losses of delivery delays to the workers. As a result, Coca Cola Sta. Rosa was completely paralyzed at 4 p.m. during the said day.

Subsequently, three days after the strike, UMDFP-CCBI-IND president Fernando Avelino reached a settlement with the Coca Cola management. The settlement included the reinstatement of the union’s workers within 3 months, benefits that include a P15000 financial assistance and P9000 rice allowance tax free, and the lifting of the picket fence by 7 p.m. of May 23.

DECEMBER Yolanda-hit SUCs to get slashed budgets Typhoon-ravaged State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Visayan region took another blow as the approved national budget pushes forth the impeding budget cuts for 2014. According to Ridon, the cuts will be lethal as the government will not provide any capital outlay for the damaged SUCs. Likewise, Ridon pointed out that the 2014 allocated budget for SUCs is lower than the capital outlay funded by the government in 2013.

WTO Conference marred with protests The Ninth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was held on December 3 to 7 on Bali, Indonesia. The “Bali Package”, a result from the said conference, aims to boost least-developed countries’ trade, food security, streamlining trade, lowering trade barriers and reforms on customs bureaucracies.

Conversely, IBON Foundation, an independent think tank, indicted WTO policies’ as the cause of the worsening labour conditions and the growing trade balance of the Philippines. They also added that the WTO further depressed the poor deep into poverty.

DepED employees face mass lay-offs Following the Department of Education’s (DepED) approval and implementation of the 2013 Rationalization (RAT) plan, more than 10,000 DepED employees, particularly the non-teaching staff, will be laid off within the next four months. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) joined by labor unions and workers’ organizations slammed the said plan, calling it a “blatant attack on the security and tenure of rank and file employees”.

Aquino admin to cap term with 15 PPP projects Amid continuous protests and oppositions, the Aquino administration pushes for the implementation of 15 modernization and building projects before the end of its term in 2016. The said infrastructure projects are part of the government’s flagship PPP program launched in 2010 to boost the country’s decrepit infrastructures and to attract direct investments.

08 CULTURE L

ONG LINES, SPILLED POPCORNS, SCRAMBLE FOR SEATS—such is the usual scenario of that particular time when Filipino families crowd in the cinemas in anticipation of the Metro Manila Film Festival. There is no denying the fact that Christmas in the Philippines has transitioned towards the digital. Going to the cinema for the MMFF has become a habit on Christmas as much as going to the church for Simbang Gabi.

The festival has been an exhibit of Filipino ties, cultures, and values over the years.

As it continues to become a part of the Filipino Christmas celebration, the role of the MMFF in our society has gone further than merely promoting the local film industry. It began to enter the roots of our nation's family tree.

So now, more than ever, the people in front and behind the silver screen need to notice the direction this film festival is cryptically heading for.

It's All About the Money On the month when people’s pockets are usually filled with money, movie producers lurk in behind the scenes as they wait for the people to willingly give up their money and watch their obra maestra.

Fortunately for the film producers, the Metro Manila Film Festival, which is usually held from Christmas day up to the first week of January, was designed to eliminate all foreign competition while becoming a venue for 'national pride'. Filipino moviemakers will finally have the spotlight for themselves.

MMFF, in short, is a gold mine for local producers. The quality of their movies in the festival is the least of their worries as they will be able to make money no matter what.

The problem arises when the number of box office tickets sold becomes the highest basis of a film entry’s success. It becomes a question of how much talent and purpose is sacrificed when commercial viability reigns supreme.

After all, the local producers all follow one and only one rule: “If thou will not sell or is not proven to sell no matter how great o f a

Fool's Gold

Exposing the Flaws of the MMFF’s Box Office Success GEMMA ALKUINO ESTEBAN ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL JOHN GALINATO ESTEMBER masterpiece you are, thou shall be scrapped.” theaters only have three to five cinemas.

This is why the producers are afraid to try Naturally, it would come down to the question a fresh perspective, a new ingenious idea of which movies are most likely to sell. So once and instead go for the cliché but tried and again, it is a dilemma of commercial viability tested simply to sell and “pumatok sa masa”. rather than quality. And apparently, nothing This really proves that filmmaking during the is more commercially viable than a movie MMFF is a profit-driven endeavor. starring the “veterans of the fest.”

When the Sale Comes First and the Truth Comes Second Stars, literally, take billions of years before they die out. This fact, sadly, isn't too far from the reality of the “stars” in the MMFF. Most of the faces we have idolized since we were kids are still the same faces we see in the movies today.

That is the reason why most people choose to watch films where their favorite “veterans” of the festival are starred in. The success of these “veterans” have been ingrained into the people’s consciousness and thus, gave way to the thinking that the box office success of a move equates to the film’s greatness.

Following this train of thought, it is not surprising that this film festival transforms into a picture of the hegemony in the entertainment universe. MMFF becomes a competition for the highest grossing film and for who is the dominating production and network. If it comes down to it, this war for dominance is not only found among networks and producers but also among the stars themselves as they try to outshine each other. This is why it comes as no surprise that on Awards’ Night, there have been instances when artists complain about being cheated for not wining acting plums that should have been rightfully theirs.

Moreover, a “palakasan” system as was stated

by E.R. Ejercito is being created from this domino effect of stars and producers vying for supremacy. This “palakasan” system, according to E.R. Ejercito becomes crystal clear when the MMFF gives bias to bigger productions. A good example would be the theaters outside Metro Manila. There are eight entries to the MMFF and these m o v i e

The MMFF breeds a system where power and profit prevails; which in turn, disregards the integrity of the films. However, this is not to say that the filmmakers should completely disregard the financial aspect of filmmaking.

After all, show business is still business, and an expensive at that. One, however, must always strike the balance between the preservation of the artistic integrity of the film and the need to sell the movie.

We Need to Take It Back in Time It was supposed to be a festival that will promote and enhance the development of the local film industry. It aimed to give local filmmakers who can produce the best Filipino films a shot at financial success versus giant studios. Hence, non-participants of the fest are hindered from the theaters to give way to the finest local film creations. Such is the rationale that the late Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas had on his mind when he started the Metro Manila Film Festival in 1975 by virtue of MMC Executive Order No. 86-09.

However, through the years, it has evolved from the celebration of Filipino film masterpieces to a showcase of forgettable films. Before, films like Ishmael Bernal's Himala, declared by the CNN as the best AsiaPacific film of all time, and works of national artists like Lino Brocka reigned supreme in the MMFF. Today, films like My Little Bossings and Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy are the best films that

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 04 February 2014 | Tuesday the festival can muster.

This is what the festival is trying to shun in the first place when it was first established.

But because of the importance of a film’s commercial viability in contemporary Philippine cinema, what sells is simply what entertains regardless of its artistic value or the freshness of its concepts. The MMFF continues to evade innovation and lauds mediocrity.

The people would not even see what's wrong with the film festival. They would continue loving these films because they have been molded to do so. We are served with these films every year and we get used to it until our standards are eventually set to this level. So in the end, it all comes down to Filipinos not seeking for art but simply for entertainment.

And here comes the producers on December, all hungry and thirsty for money, getting the advantage instead of helping the masses appreciate quality over mediocrity.

The film festival is an opportunity for local filmmakers to showcase the best Filipino films that the country has to offer. Local films which explore deeper, socially-relevant and innovative themes should be given a chance to shine in the MMFF. Continued on page 13

FEATURES 09

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 Tuesday | 04 February 2014

S

UCCESSIVE BLOWS OF NEGLIGENCE INTENSIFY THE STRUGGLE FOR A GENUINELY ACCESSIBLE AND QUALITY EDUCATION.

Banking from its vision which states that it will provide an “education directed at achieving health equity and improving the quality of life of the underserved and marginalized communities in the Philippines”, one could assert that the UPManila School of Health Sciences (SHS) campuses were built on the virtue of providing the students from far provinces with the quality education needed to serve the Filipino people.

This supposed purpose of these extension campuses, however, has been bastardized.

And now, the students of the UPM-SHS extension campuses struggle against perennial negligence, abandonment, and oppression.

Altruism Negligence has been a systemic problem -- a chronic disorder that not even the farthest annex can evade.

Extension campuses were established in the virtue of providing the students from farflung communities with quality education from UP. Students of these extension campuses undergo a different admission process compared to other UP constituent units. According to the UPM-SHS website, the extension campuses send letters to all barangays and municipalities, and it will be the discretion of the local government unit (LGU) if they want to endorse it. Seventyfive percent of the household heads of the barangay should sign a petition and this shall be submitted for the board to make a student eligible to enroll and become a full scholar at the UPM-SHS. After graduation, the selected scholar fulfills his or her Return Service Agreement (RSA) and goes back to his or her respective community as a health worker. In contrast with the RSA of the health colleges in UP Manila, the UPMSHS RSA ensures that the graduates will serve communities in dire need of health services.

The RSA in UP Manila covers all students from the College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP), College of Nursing (CN), College of Pharmacy (CP), College of Public Health (CPH), College of Dentistry (CD), and College of Medicine (CM). The 5th General RSA Policy states that “The graduate shall serve, preferably, in accordance wth the role of the defined profesion or health-related profession along three functions, but not limited to, direct service, education/training, and research. Return service shall preferably be an employment with government agencies/ institutions, underserved towns/provinces, non-government and cause-oriented organizations”. Thus, the graduates are not prohibited to enter privately-owned hospitals, when doing so contradicts the very purpose of the RSA. These extension campuses were established in the virtue of providing genuine service for the masses. Its proximity from the main campus in Manila, however, has been seen as an excuse to justify abandonment.

Neglected SHS Palo, one of the extension campuses of UP Manila, was established in 1976. In an interview with The Manila Collegian, the Nursing students of SHS Palo explained that for instance, 60 students would enter the program but only 42 would graduate. All

Planned Obsolescence

Probing the Plight of the Iskolar ng Bayan in UP Manila SHS Palo THE FEATURES TEAM ILLUSTRATION BY PRINCESS PAULINE CERVANTES HABLA students of SHS Palo receive P 2,000.00 stipend every month. Since the extension campus employs a trimestral academic calendar and a ladderized curriculum, competition is stiffer and more difficult.

Despite the promise of providing quality education, SHS Palo actually suffers from an annexed neglect of the UP administration and the government itself. Their stipend of P 2,000.00 is insufficient because it excludes their travel expenses and rent for their lodging. It does not, however, arrive on time – according to the interview, their stipend can be delayed for two months. Their laboratory lacks equipment and facilities, and their library offers mostly obsolete reading materials.

Lack of equipment and inadequate funding has rendered the extension campus dependent on sponsorships and donations from their alumni. Aside from these conditions, the scholars are rendered vulnerable to local politicking. Since LGUs are given the discretion to provide financial assistance to the endorsed scholar, the interviewees cited that receiving financial aid may still depend on their political affiliation.

Thus, there is no certainty of additional financial aid and the supposed scholar of the community still depends on their parents for sufficient funding.

To blatantly disregard the needs of the extension campus and its students is to abandon the administration’s promise of providing quality education to far-flung communities.

Aggravated T

h

e

aftermath of the recent ‘super typhoon’ is proof of the

university administration’s unpreparedness to respond to a disaster, but it also underscored and intensified the deplorable conditions of the extension campuses.

Without a proper response during the aftermath of the disaster, some students opted to return to their communities. Prior to the typhoon, the administration simply cancelled all classes. Initially, there was no intent to allow the students to cross-register.

The interviewees, who are now in Manila, had planned their duties in PGH months ago. They have not yet received their stipend, and the uniforms that they have used for their hospital duties were donated from SHS Baler. They were not consulted immediately about what to do after their 2-week duty in PGH. And since they follow a trimestral academic calendar, Nursing takes only one year and three months to accomplish. The Nursing students of SHS Palo should already be graduating next year, had it not been for the disaster and the poor response of the administration. What concerns them most is the rehabilitation of their campus, which was completely destroyed by the typhoon.

Without the rehabilitation of their campus, they will have to delay their graduation for another year.

Abandoned The Office of the UP President issued Memorandum 13-36 and 1337, both allowing students to cross-register to Luzonbased campuses so that they can continue their

studies. This was not, however, an option for SHS Palo students for they adhere to a different curriculum. Cross-registering to SHS Baler would only strain the extension campus because it suffers from the same problems of SHS Palo – the lack of facilities, materials, and professors. Should the professor from SHS Palo come to Baler, they would also have to bring their families because most of them live in Leyte.

With zero capital outlay allotted in the budget of the university, it is not only impossible to rehabilitate the campuses, but also build new ones so that the students can immediately continue their studies without permanent disruption. SHS Palo students have a competitive ladderized curriculum, but without adequate funding and assistance from the administration and the government itself, it would not be able to fully serve its purpose. Another option that the interviewees have accommodated is the possibility of fulfilling their RSAs until the campus is fully restored – but then, that would have defeated the purpose of having a ladderized curriculum because it presumes that everyone passed the courses.

SHS Palo Dean Salvador Destura had to coordinate with different organizations besides the UP administration to gather support and assistance. On December 27, 2013, The Manila Collegian has been informed that the SHS BS Nursing students completed their duties on December 11, 2013 and were brought to their respective provinces. On December 30, 2013, Dean Destura informed The Manila Collegian that the initial plan w a s just to construct “financial/ housing assistance for the faculty, staff, and students of SHS”, and to “make use of a prefabricated modular building for SHS”. But now, with the pledge of a local humanitarian foundation, the administration plans to construct an academic building in Candahug, Palo, Leyte.

Continued on page 05

10 CULTURE

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 04 February 2014 | Tuesday

Ang Mga Sopresang Nakatago sa Kultura ng Pagreregalo

ANGELO DENNIS ALIGAGA AGDEPPA AT JAMILAH PAOLA DELA CRUZ LAGUARDIA DIBUHO NI MARK JASON FLORES

B

AHAGI NA NG BUHAY NATIN ANG PAGBIBIGAY. Malaki rin ang pagpapahalaga natin sa pagbibigay at pagtanggap.

Biruin mo, kahit sa ating Panatang Makabayan, may salitang “iaalay” sa huling linya. Likas na yata sa mga Pilipino na lagi at laging mayroong regalo para sa kapwa at sa mundo.

At sa bawat regalong ating sabik na buksan ay ang pagkakaroon ng mga simbolo at mga kaugalian na sumasalamin sa ating kultura at pagkakakilanlan bilang Pilipino.

Nasaan ang regalo mo?

We accept the gifts we think we deserve.

Robbery with frustrated murder – ‘yan ang kasalanang tila nagagawa ng isang indibidwal kapag nakalimutan niyang bilhan ng regalo ‘yung nabunot niyang monito o monita, o bigyan ng kendi man lang ang titser niya kapag Teacher’s Day. Robbery, dahil tila ninanakawan niya ang kanyang sarili at ang iba ng isang magandang oportunidad para mapalawig niya ang kanyang dinamika ng pakikipagkapwa. Frustrated murder naman, dahil bukod sa pinapatay mo sa pagkadismaya ang isang tao, animo unti-unti mo na ring kinikitil ang esensya ng pagbibigyan ng regalo sa lipunan.

Ang konsepto ng regalo at pagbibigayan sa kasalukuyang lipunan ay hindi madaling baguhin. Nagbunga na ito ng mas marami pang konsepto — kadalasan sa sobrang dami at magkatulad ay mahirap na silang pag-ibahin. Sa salitang kawanggawa o charity pa lang, makikita na ang pagkakabura ng kaibahan nito sa konsepto ng pagbibigay. At hindi mo na rin napapansin na sa tila binabaliko nito ang realidad kung saan lahat ay pantay-pantay. Animo’y sa pagkakawanggawa, mas lalo pang lumalawak ang pagitan ng binibigyan at nagbibigay.

Sa pag-ikot ng regalo sa ating mga buhay, hindi lang relihiyon ang nagpapakain sa iyo na kailangan mong magbigay ng regalo sa ibang tao paminsan-minsan. Higit na nahuhubog ng ilang mga institusyon sa ating lipunan ang ating pagtanaw sa pagreregalo. Mula sa iyong pagkabata ay sinasabi na sa’yo sa pamilya niyo na mahalaga ang pagbibigayan sa isa’t isa at hanggang sa paaralan ay binibigyang-diin na mahalagang magbigay ka sa iyong kapwa. Kung kaya, hindi kataka-taka na gayon na lamang ang pagpapahalaga natin sa pagbibigay ng

mga regalo sa iba ngunit sa isang banda ay hindi natin nakikita ang lalim ng impluwesiya ng ginagawa natin sa ating lipunan.

Isa pa sa anggulong makikita sa gawi ng pagbibigayan ay ang interaksyon na nagaganap sa pagitan ng nagbibigay at binibigyan. Ang pagreregalo ay hindi na lang naman kasi ginagawa tuwing may okasyon sapagkat paraan rin ito upang magkaroon ng socialization ang mga indibidwal sa kanilang kapwa. Makikita naman natin ito kahit saan — mula sa pagbibigay ng limos sa pulubi, hanggang sa pagbibigay ng “lagay” ng mga politiko at maimpluwensiyang personalidad.

Umiikot tayo sa regalo.

Ang kultura kasi natin ng pagbibigayan ng regalo ay nakatanim din sa kagustuhan nating mapalawig pa ang mga relasyon na mayroon na tayo sa kasalukuyan. Ayon kay Colin Camerer isang behavioral economist, ang pagbibigay ng regalo ng isang indibidwal sa isa pang tao ay palatandaan ng kagustuhan ng naturang indibidwal na mag¬-invest sa katatagan ng relasyon na mayroon sila.

Kumbaga, nagkakaroon ang dalawa o higit pang tao ng tila isang “kontrata ng pagkakaunawaan”.

Ngunit, may dala ring kapahamakan ang ganitong uri ng proseso sapagkat dahil isang “kontrata”, tila nagkakaroon ng isang biglaang obligasyon o responsibilidad ang panig na binigyan ng regalo, na bigyan ng regalo o suklian ang nagbigay ng regalo. Ang dating konsepto ng charity ay napapalitan ng isang obligadong reciprocity.

At tulad ng isang mikrobyo, ang kultura ng pagbibigayan ay nasa bawat isa sa atin.

Mukhang hindi masama, hanggang sa untiunti tayong kakainin mula sa loob ng patuloy nating paghahanap ng kapalit sa bawat ibinibigay natin.

Magkano ang regalo mo?

It's not the thought that counts – pera-pera na lang 'yan.

It's better to give than to receive – kasama na yata ang prinsipyong ito sa pagbibigyan ng regalo sa strands ng DNA ng mga Pilipino.

Kaya sa kahit anong uri man ng okasyon sila maimbitahan – maging binyag, kaarawan, kasal, pasko, o bagong taon – asahan mong hindi ka mapapahiya, at may bitbit silang regalo para sa'yo.

Bukod sa mga normal na okasyon tulad nito, nandiyan din ang mga ginaya natin mula sa mga Kanluraning bansa, tulad ng Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, Teacher's Day at iba pang mga araw na dedicated para sa iba mo pang kakilala. Ngunit, mapapansin na minsan, may mga okasyon na naiimbento na ikinatataas ng kilay ng marami - Friendship day, Pet's day, Celebration of Life Day, Library Lover’s Day, World's Thanksgiving Day, just name it. Hindi mo malaman kung matatawa o magtataka ka dahil sa dami ng mga okasyon na kahit sa tanang buhay mo ay hindi mo inakalang dapat palang ipagdiwang.

Kaakibat naman ng pagsulpot ng mga kakaibang okasyon na ito ay ang pagdami ng araw na kailangang markahan ng mga Pilipino sa kanilang kalendaryo upang gumastos ng pera at magbigay ng regalo. Lingid sa kanilang kaalaman, unti-unti na pala silang nauutakan at pumapasok sa bitag ng mga kapitalista.

Ang mga okasyon kasing ito ay mga instrumento lamang ng mga kapitalista para makahita ng pera mula sa mga mamamayan – sinasamantala nila ang mga ito, gayundin ang tradisyon ng mga Pilipinong gumastos para sa pagbibigayan ng regalo. Ginagawan nila ng demand ang mga bagay, na kung tutuusin ay hindi naman mahalaga para mapa-unlad ang buhay ng isang tao. Kaya't bago pa man mapagtanto ng mga tao ang tunay na esensya ng okasyon, naunahan na sila ng mga kapitalista at butas na ang kanilang mga bulsa.

Pero hindi natatapos dito ang "magic tricks" ng mga kapitalista – may kakayahan din silang baguhin ang estilo sa pagreregalo ng mga Pilipino. Sa pamamagitan ng mga makukulay na ads at mapang-akit na offers at promos, kayang-kaya ka nilang makumbinsi na ang dating halik at yakap na regalo tuwing Mother's Day, ay hindi na makapaglalagay ng ngiti sa labi ng iyong ina - kailangan na niya ng Prada pumps o kaya ay limited edition Michael Kors tote bag.

Dito mapapansin na ang nagiging motto sa Ipagpatuloy sa Pahina 13

FEATURES 11

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 Tuesday | 04 February 2014

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INAPIAN ANG PRENO. SINGBILIS LANG NG BULONG ANG PAGTAMBAD SA IYO NG TONE-TONELADANG HALIMAW NA BAKAL.

Ika-6 ng Disyembre 2013 noong nahulog ang isang bus ng Don Mariano Transit Corp. sa skyway ng South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Labindalawang katao ang namatay, habang walo ang nakaligtas sa aksidente.

Pangkaraniwan lamang na sinisi nila ang drayber ng bus dahil sa overspeeding.

Pero isang aspekto na kailangang tignan ay ang mga kondisyon na nagtutulak sa mga drayber ng bus na magmadali sa kanilang mga biyahe. Ayon sa panayam ng ilang drayber sa dzMM, lumabas na kinakailangan nilang magtrabaho ng mahigit sa 16 na oras kada araw para mabayaran ang PhP 12,500 na boundary sa kanilang operators. Sampung porsyento lamang ng kita nila ang napupunta sa kanila. Pangkaraniwang PhP 1,250.00 lamang ang napupunta sa mga drayber na ito. Dulot ng ganitong kondisyon ang tinatawag na road rage – ang pagmamadali ng mga drayber para lamang makatiyak na mayroon silang mauuwing sapat na sweldo sa kanilang pamilya.

Sa kabila ng mga karapatan na nakapaloob sa Labor Code, ang pagtamasa ng mga karapatan ng manggagawa para sa mga drayber ng bus ay tinatalaga ng kanilang operator – may batas man o wala.

Ronda Trapik, pagod at usok; ibinenta ng drayber ang kanyang kaluluwa sa akit ng bilis. Pareparehong pag-angkin sa kalsada, pareparehong pasahero ng sistema.

Ang over-speeding at paggigitgitan ng mga pampublikong sasakyan ay dulot ng kanilang pagmamadali at paghahabol sa nakatakdang oras para maabot nila ang quota para mabayaran ang kanilang boundary. Ayon sa panayam ng The Manila Collegian kay Rogelio Soluta, secretary general ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), “Pressured sila eh, tinutulak sila ng isang kalagayan na kinakailangan na magtrabaho sila ng halos walang pagpapahinga dahil naghahabol sila sa oras – oras para makakuha siya ng pera nang sa gayon, maabot niya yung nakatalagang quota diyan – yung boundary”. Ito ang sistemang komisyon, kung saan kahit mahina o malakas ang kinita ng isang drayber sa pamamasada, tanging ang operator lamang ang nakakatanggap ng regular o fixed na kita.

Maliban sa mismong katangian ng commission system kung saan hinihingian ng boundary ang mga drayber ng bus, mayroon ding tinatawag si Sandy Hachaso ng Kapatiran ng mga Anakpawis sa Bus Industry (KABISIG) Transport group na ‘less fuel’ o ‘less toll’ kung saan kinakaltas sa komisyon ng drayber ang pambayad ng gasoline at toll gate. Dahil dito, lubos pang nababawasan ang maliit nang kita ng mga drayber.

Sa pagnanais na makakita ng sapat ng pera para mabuhay ang kani-kanilang mga pamilya, napipilitan ang mga drayber na isakripisyo hindi lang ang kanilang kaligtasan

PAGRAGASA Pagtingin sa Nakaligtaang Kondisyon ng mga Drayber ng Bus RUTH GENEVIEVE AUSTRIA LUMIBAO AND CHRISTIAN REYNAN IBANEZ DURANA DIBUHO NI JOANNE PAULINE RAMOS SANTOS kung hindi pati na rin ang kanilang kalusugan.

Rekta

Ngunit mismong bus operators ang gumagawa ng paraan para harangan ang tanging paraan para maparating ng mga drayber ang kanilang mga saloobin. Isa sa mga karapatan ng manggagawa ay ang pagtataguyod ng isang unyon. Ilang beses nang nabigo ang mga drayber sa pagbuo ng unyon. Unang-una, ito ay dala na rin ng kawalan ng konsentrasyon dulot ng malalayong biyahe at iba-ibang operators. Pero maliban dito ay ang mas malalim na problema ng union-busting. Maaaring gumawa ng paraan ang kompanya na matanggal sa trabaho ang mga lider ng unyon, o kaya naman mismong mga may-ari ng kompanya ang bubuo ng isang unyon. Ayon kay Hachaso, ito ay isang repleksyon ng “mapanlinlang na sistema ng management na hindi nila binibigay sa mga empleyado ang karapatan o inisyatiba na magtayo ng tunay na unyon. Yung mismong management, nagrerehistro sila ng unyon na sila ang may gawa.”

Hindi na naman nagpang-abot ang kinita, minura pa ng operator. Walang karapatang umangal, walang magagawa kundi bumawi.

At dahil sa kawalan ng aktibong unyon sa sektor ng mga drayber ng bus, walang nakakapagpaabot sa mga may-ari ng kompanya ng kanilang mga hinaing.

Nanatiling na kagubatan ang EDSA.

madawag

Nakasaad sa Department Order 112-18 ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na kinakailangan nang bigyan ng pirmihan at regular na pasahod ang mga drayber ng bus.

Kilala bilang “fixed wage system”, sinisiguro nito na magkakaroon ng sahod ang mga drayber kahit hindi sila namasada sa araw na iyon. Ang pagkakaroon ng ganitong sistema ng pasahod ay nagbibigay ng tiyak at sapat na kita para sa mga drayber, kasama na ang day-off with pay at overtime pay. Ito ang ilan sa mga benepisyo ng mga drayber na hindi binibigyang-katiyakan ng sistemang komisyon – dahil ang tanging sinisiguro lang naman nito ay ang kita ng mismong nagpapatakbo ng kompanya.

Ngunit hindi mapagkakaila na may mga drayber rin ng bus na nag-aalangan sa ganitong sistema. Naroon pa rin ang panganib na baka mas maliit ang makuha nilang kita gayong walong oras lang naman silang magtatrabaho at minimum wage lamang ang takdang babayaran ng kanilang operators.

Ang pag-aalangan na ito ay nanggaling sa nakasanayan

na nilang pag-uwi ng kita gabi-gabi. Ayon kay Hachaso, isa na ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit nakikita ang mga drayber ng bus bilang mga impormal na manggangawa o “malamanggagawa”. Mismong sistema na rin ng pagpapatakbo ng kompanya ang nagtatak sa isip ng mga drayber na mas mainam makakuha ng suweldo gabi-gabi. “Ang dahilan sa pagaalangan na iyan ay sinalang sila ng mga kompanya na tatlo o dalawang consecutive days kang lalabas, then sa mga susunod na araw, wala ka na ulit biyahe, so para kang gutom na halimaw. Pagkatapos ng dalawa o tatlong araw mo, sasampa ka na naman ulit.

At ang mind-setting mo, kailangan mong bunuin 'to, kahit ilang oras hangga't kaya ko kasi sa susunod na araw, wala na naman akong biyahe. Ito ang sistemang rotation, kung saan sinanay ang mga driver sa ganoong attitude.

‘Pag hindi mo binyahe nang sagad yan, wala ka nang makakain the next day,” dagdag niya.

Dito pumapasok ang kahalagahan ng pagtatayo ng unyon ng mga drayber ng bus – hindi lang ang pagkakaroon ng bargaining power ng mga manggagawa, kung hindi para na rin makatulong sa pagmulat ng katotohanan tungkol sa isang mapanupil na sistema.

Mabilis ang kita sa sistemang komisyon, ngunit sa mahigit 12 hanggang 19 oras ng pagtatrabaho, kapalit ng kanilang malaking kita ay isang malaking dagok sa kanilang kalusugan.

Isang kalbaryong tinahak, ni wala naman lang pumatid ng uhaw.

Ruta Wala talaga silang pinapatunguhan.

Ang pribatisado at korporatistang karakter ng industriya ng bus ay dumadagdag sa pagdududa ng mga drayber na maisasakatuparan nang maayos ang fixed wage system. Ang pag-aalangan na ito ay nanggagaling sa katotohanang kahit nakamandato sa batas na magbigay ng PhP 404.00 na minimum wage, hindi naman ito nasusunod. Ang mas nakababahala dito ay kahit alam ng pamahalaan na hindi ito naisasakatuparan, hindi rin naman ito kayang kontrolin at pigilan.

Mahalagang siyasatin kung ano nga ba talaga ang paraan para mapanagot ang mga bus operator. Maliban sa Department Order 118-12, ang sistema ng fixed wages na sinusunod ngayon, hiniain nina Rep. Teddy Casino at Rep. Rafael Mariano noong 2010 ang House Bill 3370, kilala bilang Bus Drivers and Conductors Compensation Bill .

Malaki ang pinagkaiba ng dalawang ito pagdating sa pagpapanagot ng bus operators. Ayon sa Section 4, Rule VIII ng Department Order 11812, maaaring hilingin ng DOLE sa LTFRB ang kanselasyon ng prangkisa kung hindi nila susundin ang mga batas sa pagkakaroon ng fixed wages at ibang pang benepisyo para sa mga drayber ng bus.

Ngunit kung susuriing mabuti, ang pagkakansela ng prangkisa ay katumbas ng pagpapawalangsala sa mga dapat managot: ang mga operators. Sa pagkansela ng prangkisa, mas lubos na Ipagpatuloy sa Pahina 13

12 CULTURE

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 04 February 2014 | Tuesday

Walang Sikretong Hindi Nabubunyag Ang saysay ng mga secret files sa kultura ng kontemporaryong lipunan JOSE LORENZO QUEROL LANUZA

“Basang-basa tayo sa ulan at sabi mo magpatuyo muna tayo sa inyo. Dumiretso ako sa CR at hinubad ang basang t-shirt at mini-shorts. Bigla ka na lang pumasok, pumwesto sa likod ko at dahan-dahang hinimas ang aking dibdib…pababa. Naginit na ang katawan ko nun, hindi na ako pumalag kasi kating-kati na din ako. Humarap ako sa’yo, bumaba, tinanggap nang buo ang pagkatao mo—true love nga naman. At pagtapos kong gawin ‘yun, ang sabi mo, ‘Pare, ikaw naman paliligayahin ko.’ Hindi pa ako patay pero dinala mo na ako sa langit.”

-Dicktator 201X Bitin. Kung hindi man nabitin, baka kinilig ka naman. Ang nabasa mo ay iisa lamang sa napakaraming ”university files” na nagkalat sa mga social networking sites. Nilalaman nito ang mga bulung-bulungan at mga pangyayaring gustong ipagmalaki ng mga manunulat nito sa karamihan. Sa panahon ng Internet at mass media, at sa pagsulpot ng mga secret files, nabigyang-saysay at papel sa lipunan ang mga sikretong ikinikimkim ng bawat indibidwal.

Lord, Patawad!

“Inaamin ko na sa bawat exam ko, ang inspirasyon ko ay ‘yung katabi ko. Hindi dahil sa maganda ‘yung mukha niya, pero dahil mukhang maganda ‘yung mga sagot niya.”

-CheatersNeverFail 201X Sa historikal na pananaw, tinuruan tayo ng mga Kastila na ikumpisal ang ating mga kasalanan at mga nagawang bagay na sa tingin natin ay nakasakit ng iba o bumabagabag sa atin. Tumatak ang pagkukumpisal sa ating kultura, at malinaw na makikita ang manipestasyon nito sa kontemporaryong lipunan.

Ang mga secret files ay maaaring ituring na isang moda ng pagkukumpisal. Dito, maaari mong aminin na pinagti-tripan mo tuwing gabi ang dorm mate mong walang kamalay-malay; na ikaw ‘yung tumae nang pagkalaki-laki at hindi nakapag-flush. Ayon kay Carl Jung, isang tanyag na psychiatrist, likas sa tao na ikumpisal ang nagawang kasalanan sa ibang tao. Maliban kasi sa layuning magkamit ng kapatawaran, nilalayon din nung nagkumpisal na muling silang magkasundo nung taong nagawan niya ng kasalanan.

Ayon din kay Jung, ang katambal ng kumpisal ay kapatawaran, na siyang magiging papel na gagampanan ng mambabasa. Ang mambabasa ang magsisilbing instrumentong didinig sa kumpisal nung manunulat. I-like mo lang ang file, o kaya’y mag-comment ng, “Ganyan rin ako,” maaaring maibsan ang pagkabahala ng konsensya nung manunulat.

Mahihinuha natin na sa ating lipunan, maraming taong naghahanap ng mga nagkamali rin katulad nila, upang masabi na normal sila at hindi social deviants. Ang bawat indibidwal na

may access sa secret files kasi ay may sariling pananaw ng kung ano ang tama at mali. Kaya naman ang isang sin file ay maaaring makita sa kung ano ang pananaw ng nakababasa nito. Samakatuwid, sa pamamagitan ng mga secret files, maaaninag natin ang moral na karakter nung nagsulat at maging nung nagbigay ng reaksyon.

Pantasya ng bayan

Sikretong pagtingin

-MakeSomeNoise 20XX

“Nung una kitang makilala, binigyan mo ako ng pag-asa. ‘Di nagtagal, ikaw din pala ang magtatanggal ng ‘g’ sa ‘pag-asa’. Paasa ka. Pinaasa mo lang ako sa wala.”

Marahil, nagkaroon ka na ng sekswal na karanasan sa publikong o pribadong lugar. O kaya nama’y isa ka sa mga taong minamarkahan ang bawat pader ng campus at pagtapos ay isu-sumite ang sexcapade sa secret files ng naturang unibersidad. O ikaw ‘yung simpleng nakaupo sa harap ng laptop, nagbabasa ng secret files; at maya-maya’y pupunta sa kubeta—at alam na natin kung ano ang susunod.

-Pochi 2012 Mapapansin ang tatlong trends sa nilalaman ng mga secret files na patungkol sa pag-ibig: maaaring ito ay pagtatapat ng pagtingin, galit sa taong minamahal o dating minahal, o simpleng pagbabahagi ng hugot. Ipinapakita lamang ng tatlong sitwasyon na ito na tila maraming kabataang Pilipino ay itinuturing ang pakikipag-relasyon bilang isang pangangailangan sa buhay, kaya naman gumagamit sila ng secret files para magbaka-sakaling maiba ang takbo ng kanilang buhay-pag-ibig.

“Para dun sa babaeng nakapulang t-shirt; na nakaupo dun sa RH lobby kaninang umaga; na kumakanta pero pangit ‘yung boses pero binawi naman sa mukha: Crush kita!” Kung nakapagpasa ka na ng file katulad nito, masasabing isa kang risk-taker. Ang kagandahan kasi sa secret files ay meron kang power of anonymity. Ibig sabihin, dahil wala rin namang makakakilala sa’yo, walang mawawala sa’yo kung magtatapat ka, at mas malaki pa ang tiyansa na magkakaroon ng “sparks” kung magrereply ‘yung crush mo. Pero siyempre, hindi lahat ng gusto mo, natutupad.

Hindi natin inaamin pero may ilan sa atin ang umaasang makaranas ng pag-ibig lalo na’t talamak ang ganitong kuwento sa secret files. Umaasa tayo na may papansin sa ating presensiya, o kaya naman ay umaasa tayong may handang magtapat sa atin. Tila bumabalik tayo sa realidad na marami sa atin ang naghahanap ng atensyon mula sa iba. Gusto rin nating may magtapat sa atin, dahil sa lipunang Pilipino, ang kadalasang depenisyon ng “sweet” at “tunay na pag-ibig” ay isang pagibig na isinisigaw at ipinapaalam sa buong mundo.

Natural lang naman na mag-asam at matuwa sa mga papuri. Nakadaragdag kasi ito sa self-esteem at marahil, pati na rin sa pagasang makahanap ng tunay na pagmamahal.

Sigurado namang ikatutuwa at ipagmamalaki mo kung marami ang nagkakagusto sa iyong itsura o sa ugali. Minsan, dahil sobrang toxic na ng buhay-kolehiyo, ang kailangan lang natin ay inspirasyon. Kahit pangit pa ‘yung subject o prof, basta’t makatabi ang crush, eh ok na. Ang mga posts sa secret files ay maaaring pagkunan ng inspirasyon, lakas, at motibasyon ng karamihan para mabawasan ang pagiging toxic ng buhay-kolehiyo.

“Inaantok ako habang nakikipag-sex sa’yo.

Sana naman sa susunod na gawin natin ‘yun, lagyan mo naman ng buhay. Umungol ka naman o sumigaw ng, ‘More!’ T*ngina, sa tuwing ginagawa kasi natin, parang nasa silent film ako.”

Sa sikolohiya, merong konseptong tinatawag na exhibitionism. Ito ang pagkakaroon ng sekswal na kasiyahan sa paglalantad ng maselang bahagi sa ibang tao. Kung susuriin, masasabing isang uri ng exhibitionism ang pagkakaroon ng kasiyahan pagkatapos magbahagi ng sekswal na karanasan sa secret files. Tila nagiging mas liberal na ang lipunang ginagalawan ng mga Pilipino ngayon — subalit nananatiling nakatali ang pagiging liberal sa pakikipagtalik.

Sa kabilang banda, ang konsepto naman ng voyeurism ay ang pagkakaroon ng sekswal na interes sa lihim na panunuod ng sexual acts ng ibang tao. Kung ilalapat ang konsepto ng voyeurism sa kontemporaryong lipunan, masasabi na ang mga taong nakahahanap ng sekswal na kasiyahan at katuwaan sa pagbabasa ng mga secret files ay maaaring ituring na isang voyeur, o scopophilia, ayon kay Freud. Bilang mga mambabasa, naroon ka habang binabasa mo iyon at ika nga, imagination lang ang limit.

Makakabuo ng isang napakagandang relasyon ang exhibitionist at ang voyeur. Ang isa ay nasisiyahan sa pagpapakita, at ang isa nama’y nasisiyahan sa panunuod. Malinaw itong makikita sa kultura ng secret files. Ang mga secret files ay maituturing na isang sangandaan ng mga pantasya at sekswal na pagnanais ng mga tao.

Masarap talaga ang kadalasang pinagbabawal sa lipunan.

All the feels “San ba ako nagkulang? Sa tulog, oo, pero wala na nga ‘kong tulog sa kaka-aral tapos ang baba pa ng makukuha ko? Pakiramdam ko tuloy hindi ako nababagay dito.”

-PieceOfShit 20XX Sa pamamagitan ng pagbabahagi o pagkukuwento ng problema sa ibang tao, maiibsan ang iyong depresyon at pagkabalisa. Masasabi na ang mga nagbabahagi ng kanilang problema sa mga secret files ay umaasang makakuha ng kahit anong tulong o pag-intindi mula sa mga

mambabasa. Ang iba namang ibinabahagi na meron silang suicidal tendencies ay gustong maramdaman na meron pang mga taong may pakialam at nag-aalala sa kanila.

Maaaring i-apply ang contagion theory ng sosyolohiya sa kultura ng secret files. Ayon kay Gustave Le Bon, isang sosyolohista, ang isang grupo ng mga tao ay may mala-hipnotismong kakayahan na pakilusin at maimpluwensiyahan ang mga miyembro nito na gumawa ng aksyon—rasyonal man o irasyonal. Ang mga secret files ang siyang may hawak sa emosyon ng mga nagsusulat at nagbabasa, kasama na rito ang pag-iisip na magkaroon ng pagninilay sa kanilang mga buhay. Ang mga secret files na ito ay may kakayahan na pagbuklurin ang mga estudyante sa pamamagitan ng mga kuwento at emosyong parehas nilang naranasan.

Bilang mambabasa, naghahanap ka rin ng karamay sa iyong mga problema. Naghahanap ng karamay nung may report ka kinabukasan at unable to reach ang mga kagrupo; nung katatapos mo lang tumae at saka mo lang nalaman na wala palang tissue ‘yung cubicle; nung enrollment na pero ‘di pa nagpapasa ng grade yung prof mo. Sa pagbabasa ng mga secret files, mararamdaman mo na hindi ka nag-iisa sa iyong mga problema.

Ang mga ganitong uri ng posts sa secret files ang sumasalamin sa mga madidilim na bahagi ng buhay-kolehiyo. Ang mga kwentong nakalahad dito ay ipinapakita lamang na hindi puro kaligayahan at kalokohan ang buhay-kolehiyo. Kung susuriin, ang pagpo-post natin sa secret files ay maituturing na isang modernong uri ng psychotherapy. Ang pagpo-post ay naging isang alternatibo solusyon para sa mga estudyanteng nais mabawasan ang kanilang pagkalumbay at magkaroon ng kaluwagan sa buhay.

Ang mga puwersa at presyur sa kinagagalawan mong lipunan ang nag-udyok sa iyo na lumikha ng isang makabagong mekanismo na siyang tutulong sa atin upang mabawasan ang presyur. Ang makabagong mekanismong ito ay kinakatawan ng mga secret files. Ang mga secret files ang nagbigay sa iyo ng daan upang mailabas ang mga iyong itinatagong kasalanan, hinanakit, pagtingin, at kabiguan.

Ang bawat secret file ay kumakatawan sa isang indibidwal, at ang kabuoang koneksyon ng mga secret files ay matatawag na isang bagong lipunang nakapaloob sa Internet. Dito, nakapaloob ang iba’t-ibang kultura, pananaw, at moralidad. Ngunit, naiiba ang lipunang ito sa lipunang nakikita ng ating mga mata.

Isang malayang lipunan sa loob ng isang lipunang puno ng posas — ito ang mundong nabuo sa paglabas ng mga secret files. Ang lipunang ito, bagama’t malaya, ay puno ng mga totoong kuwento at damdamin. At dito pumapaloob ang isa pang potensyal na tangan ng mga secret files— ang kakayahan nito na maging lunsaran ng Ipagpatuloy sa Pahina 13

FREESTYLE 13

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 Tuesday | 04 February 2014 KULTURA NG PAGREREGALO / MULA SA PAHINA 10

pagbibigay ng regalo ay nakukulong sa usapin ng presyo at pera. Ang nagiging sukatan ng value ng regalo ay nakalagay na lang sa dami ng zeroes sa price tag nito – kaya't kung alam niyang binili mo lang ito sa bangketa sa Divisoria, humandang matawag na "poor", "jologs" o "chipipay". Isama na rin sa formula ang pagiging branded ng naturang regalo, para hindi ka mabansagang may "bad taste" ng nakatanggap ng regalo mo, at para maisip niya na "rich kid" ka.

Mas mahal ba ang regalo ko sa’yo?

Subalit, bukod sa butas na bulsa at sandamakmak na mga utang, hindi lamang ito ang iniiwan na latay ng mga kapitalista sa buhay ng mga tao – ang tunay na esensya mismo ng pagbibigayan ng regalo ay nakakaya nilang burahin. Kung dati, nagbibigay ka ng regalo para mapangiti mo 'yung crush mo, o kaya naman para magpasalamat sa isang tao, ngayon may bagong trend na – ang magbigay ng regalo para masabi mo sa isang tao na mas mataas ka sa kanya sa lipunan.

Sa ngayon kasi, sa pagbibigayan ng regalo, isa na lang ang aspektong dapat na isaalangalang – kung kaya mo bang pantayan o, higitan pa ang regalong binigay sa'yo ng isang tao. Kumbaga, kapag binigyan ka ng cellphone, may dalawa ka lang pagpipilian na gagawin – ang bigyan din ng cellphone ang nagbigay sa'yo, o kaya naman ay bigyan siya ng laptop, tablet, o kung ano pa mang mas mahal at mas magarbo sa iniregalo niya.

Hindi na option na tanggapin mo na lang basta nang masaya ang isang regalo at simpleng magpasalamat, dahil kapag ganito ang pinili mo, mararamdaman mong para kang isang pulubing nililimosan. Kung papantayan mo naman ang regalo niya, pasimple mong naipaparating sa kanya na, "Kaya ko ring bilhin ang kaya mong bilhin!" Pero, kung kaya ng powers mo namahigitan ang regalo niya, gets na niya na na gusto mong sabihin na, "Mas mahal at mas magarbo ang regalo ko sa'yo! I can buy you, your friends, and everything in this world!"

Kaya naman ang esensya ng pagbibigayan na nakabatay sa pagpapasaya ng tao at pagpapasalamat, ay napapalitan ng isang kultura ng pagpapataasan at pagyayabangan na maaaring mauwi sa pagbabangayan.

Tunay na isang kabalintunaan dahil imbes na suriing mabuti ang costs at benefits ng isang desisyon, nakikita na handa pa lang gumastos FOOL’S GOLD / FROM PAGE 8

What seems harmless actually isn’t. This once-in-a-year event may prove to be influential to generations after generations of Filipinos.

The commercial focus of the festival cannot be more emphasized. Nevertheless, no matter what we do, these movies will become a part of our culture and our identity.

The problem, actually, lies on the fact that the same formula for ensuring box office success is tweaked and repackaged every year. The names, storylines, and the actors of the movies in the MMFF may be different but it all boils down to each film’s desire to profit. Replication, and not innovation, dominates. Progress is elusive to a society which resists change. And the MMFF has been an instrument to the preservation of a cultural standstill.

ng malaki ang mga tao kahit hindi nila kaya, matagurian lamang silang mas “maykaya” sa lipunan. Isa pa, imbes na gamitin bilang isang instrumentong makakapagpaigting ng mekanismo ng pakikipagkapwa, ang hinihigpitan ng ganitong kultura ay ang hindi pagkakapantay-pantay at ang hiyarkiya sa lipunan na nakabase naman sa usapin ng pera.

Ngunit kung akala ng mga tao ay tunay nilang nahihigitan ang bawat isa, nagkakamali sila - ang tunay na lamang na nakakahigit sa kanila ay ang mga kapitalista. Binubusog lamang nila nang binubusog ang bulsa ng mga kapitalista, dahil sa walang sawa nilang pagbili. Sila mismo ang nagpapahirap at nagbababa sa mga sarili nila sa hiyarkiyang mayroon sa lipunan, dahil sa pagtangkilik nila sa mga taktikang ito ng mga kapitalista.

Sa unti-unting pag-ikot ng ganitong uri ng mekanismo sa pagbibigayan ng regalo, untiunti ring inililibing ng mga tao ang kanilang mga sarili sa isang bitag – bitag ng walanghanggang paggastos at pagpapataasan sa lipunan.

Masarap makatanggap ng regalo – pero, mas ramdam mo siguro ang rush ng feels kung taos-puso ang pagbibigay nito.

Masokista lang siguro ang taong hindi natutuwa kapag nakakatanggap ng regalo.

Katuwang kasi ng regalong natanggap, ay ang pakiramdam ng pagmamahal, pagpapahalaga, at pagpapasalamat mula sa taong nagbibigay nito. Subalit, ang matamis na pakiramdam na ito ay napapalitan ng pait sa patuloy nating pag-kukulong sa tradisyon ng pagbibigayan ng regalo sa usapin ng pera at pagpapagandahan ng imahe sa lipunan.

Imbes na sorpresang may kaakibat na kaligayahan at pakikipagkapwa, sorpresa ng kultura ng pakikipagtunggali sa isa't-isa at pagbabalewala sa minanang tradisyon ang tinatanggap at tinatangkilik nating pamana sa pagbibigayan ng regalo.

Ang magandang balot ng mga regalo ay nababahiran ng ibang mga kulay – kulay ng pagiging makasarili, ng pag-iimbot at pagmamataas.

Sana’y sa susunod na magbibigay tayo ng regalo, maalala natin na nagbibigay na rin tayo ng isang parte ng ating katauhan sa ibang tao – isang parte na sana ay naka-ugat sa pagpapaunlad ng kultura at pagpapatatag ng sosyalisasyon sa lipunan.

As we continue to follow the things far from our reality and far from what we deserve to see, we also continue to let ourselves believe in the illusion that art is for money and fame’s sake. Thus, if such thinking is not debunked, we will continue to be a society that sees but not perceives. *Apologies to Jessie J WALANG SIKRETONG HINDI NABUBUNYAG / MULA SA PAHINA 12

diskurso ukol sa mga isyung panlipunan.

Dapat nating isaisip na ang lipunan sa labas ng secret files ay higit pa sa mga hugot; kung kaya, dapat ginagamit natin ang social media sa kampanya upang masugpo ang mga problemang dulot ng isang sistemang panlipunan na mapaniil.

Dahil sa huli, higit pa na mas may saysay ang pakikiisa para sa mga aktwal at konkretong feels ng lipunan.

CONSTITUTIONAL PARADOX / FROM PAGE 16

making, initiated through a referendum, and not a consultancy-based approach, should be heeded. This should start by having increased and proportional student representation in the BOR. A sectoral administrative design would not only effectively link the university towards communities, but would enlarge venues for student participation. Amending the UP Charter is not enough, demanding for the pro-poor bias of the university would always be fundamental.

The university’s direct stakeholders are its students. Without their representation, the administration would blindly make decisions. And as in every institution, greater representation is imperative.

ACCOUNTING THE UNACCOUNTABLE: Assessing the Power of the Board of Regents

By Leandro Feliciano Salazar The highest people answer to no one.

RA 9500 or the 2008 UP Charter states that the Board of Regents (BOR) is vested with the governance of the University of the Philippines.

The BOR is given jurisdiction in all aspects of the University. They are bestowed with great power over the system that runs the university’s activities and structure. Section 13(a) of the Charter provides that the BOR has the power “To define in general terms the thrusts of the national university and adopt broad policy guidelines to ensure their implementation”. They can approve the abolition and institutionalization of new academic programs in the university and make appointments, among which is the election and selection of the UP President.

Among the powers of the BOR, as provided by the Charter in Section 13(m) is “to fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, as the Board may deem proper to impose, after due and comprehensive PAGRAGASA / MULA SA PAHINA 11

naaapektuhan ang mga drayber. Ito ang isinaalang-alang ng House Bill 3370. Sa Seksyon 9 nito, binanggit na maaaring mapanagot ang bus operator na hindi sumusunod sa fixed wages sa pamamagitan ng paniningil ng multa na nagkakahalagang PhP 100,000.00 hanggang PhP 200,000.00.

Bagaman nakasaad din na maaaring suspindihin ang prangkisa, tinitiyak ng HB 3370 na tatagal lamang ito hanggang sa panahong tumupad na sa fixed wages, at sa mga kaukulang benepisyo nito, ang mga bus operators.

Ang pangunahing dahilan ng pagkiling ng pamahalaan sa panukala na suspindihin o tanggalan na lamang ng prangkisa ang mga kompanya ng bus ay isang repleksyon ng kanilang hangad na sumunod sa kagustuhan ng mga banyagang namumuhunan.

Pinaliwanag ni Hachaso na maaaring ibenta ng pamahalaan ang mga prangkisa ng bus sa mga banyaga. At para sa isang pamahalaan na gumagalaw sa prinsipyo ng neoliberalismo, o ang pag-iwan ng industriya sa kamay ng pribadong sektor at multinasyunal na mga korporasyon, higit na nawawalan ng karapatan ang mga manggagawa.

Ang tinuturo nilang solusyon para mapatupad nang maayos ang fixed wage system ay ang pagsasabansa ng sektor ng transportasyon.

Ayon kay Hachaso, ikabubuti ng sektor na ito ang pagsasabansa o nationalization “para

consultation with the students concerned.”

This legitimizes the BOR’s capability to impose increases in tuition and other fees. Student consultations regarding key policy changes are rarely adhered to, and if there is one, only few are informed and allowed to attend.

The Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program is one key source of funding of the university. The amendments to STFAP discussed by the BOR on November 28, 2013 were rendered null and void because of the lack of quorum. Of the 11 BOR members, only 5 were able to attend. Among the six members who were not present was Student Regent Krista Melgarejo because she was sick.

But even if the quorum was not established, the BOR proceeded with the meeting.

The 2008 Charter clearly states that a majority of the BOR constitutes a quorum for the meetings. The imposition to convene without a quorum is a manifestation of their power. But more than this, the imposition of their power against the Charter itself is a manifestation of their desire to transgress institutionalized rules. But as the highest policy making body of the university, they were accountable to no one.

The BOR is given tremendous power and control over the University’s system.

Nonetheless, they should not act supreme over the students. Their powers do not give them the right to trample and even disregard the Charter. The challenge for the student body is to remain vigilant and critical until the administration of the university recognizes the students as the legitimate and rightful stakeholders of their policies.

The BOR is mandated to preserve the integrity of the university, not to fulfill profit-seeking ventures as the university becomes merely a company run by hunger and greed.

The students have the right to ensure the accountability of the administration – and not even a legal document can change that. ang gobyerno mismo ang magtiyak sa kalidad ng serbisyo para sa mga sumasakay. At para gobyerno mismo ang makaranas kung paano magpatakbo ng transportasyon sa linya ng serbisyo at hindi sa linya ng negosyo.” Ito ay tinitingnan sa perspektibo na ang gobyerno ay hindi isang pribadisadong institusyon na interesado lamang na pagkakitaan ang mga industriya o sektor sa lipunan.

Dagdag ni Hachaso, “Hangga't nasa loob ng balangkas ng private partnership iyan, hangga't nasa loob ng pribadong kapital, ang laging pangunahing hangad ng isang kapitalista diyan ay tubo. At dahil tubo ang pangunahing hangad niya diyan, empleyado ang pangunahing maaapektuhan at titipirin sa sahod.”

Silang mga mismong tagapaghatid ay nililigaw ng sistema.

Hindi kailanman masosolusyunan ng pagremedyo sa kalsadahan, pagtanggal ng prangkisa, at paghigpit ng pag-monitor sa trapiko ang isang palalim na palalim na isyu ng kamalayan. Walang dudang ang pag-organisa ng mga drayber ng bus ang siyang magpapalakas sa lumalaking hanay ng organisadong sektor ng transportasyon – ang tanging paraan para baliktarin ang umiiral na pyudal na relasyon sa gitna ng mga operator at ng mga drayber.

14 EDITORIAL

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 04 February 2014 | Tuesday

THE ONE WHO MUST AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF ITS CONSTITUENTS IS THE ONE WHO MUTES IT. The highest governing body of any university must serve the interests and welfare of the students through democratic governance.

But when such body disregards the values it is supposed to uphold, then the constituents of the university are left with no choice but to resist.

EDITOR-IN- CHIEF

Aries Joseph Armendi Hegina ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Angelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa

Last December 13, 2013, the 28th University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents (BOR) held its 1294th meeting in UP Diliman, just weeks after the invalidation of the 1293rd meeting last November 28. The invalidation of the 1293rd BOR meeting was brought by the growing opposition of the students as the said meeting proceeded without a quorum and the absence of Student Regent Krista Melgarejo, the sole representative of UP students in the board.

The BOR held the 1294th meeting and re-raised the discussions for the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) reforms, amendments to Articles 330, 430, and 431 of the Revised University Code, and the proposed Chemical Engineering laboratory fee increase in UP Diliman.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Kathleen Trinidad Guiang MANAGING EDITOR

Ruth Genevieve Austria Lumibao ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR

John Vherlin Canlas Magday NEWS EDITOR

Christine Joy Frondozo Angat GR APHIC S EDITOR

Deonah Abigail Lugo Miole NEWS CORRESPONDENTS

Ezra Kristina Ostaya Bayalan, Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla, Leonard Dangca Javier, Carlo Rey Resureccion Martinez, Ronilo Raymundo Mesa CULTURE CORRESPONDENT

Jamilah Paola dela Cruz Laguardia

It took two weeks for the administration to decide the invalidation of the 1293rd BOR meeting, which in the first place should have not been pushed through. Aside from the lack of quorum, the SR’s presence in the meeting is fundamental because the deliberations and decisions on key policies will have the gravest effects to UP students represented by the SR. The November 28 meeting, from the very start, was already rigged. The meeting was cleverly schemed to pass and approve the reforms in the STFAP, the amendments to Articles 430 and 431, and lab fee increase without much opposition.

It is unacceptable that the governing body of a prestigious university hastily proceeds to decision-making on very serious matters without due process. The BOR disregarded the importance of quorum as an element of democratic governance, thus tainting its own credibility of being a pro-student position.

The proposal of the Pascual administration to make reforms to the STFAP was approved by the BOR last December 13. Seven out of nine regents that were present voted in favor of the proposal, while Staff Regent Anna Razel Ramirez and Student Regent Krista Melgarejo abstained.

Pascual believed that the 24 year-old program must be continued, as it is a part of UP’s effort to democratize access to its academic programs while promulgating fairness and social justice in the university. This clearly shows the sheer fatuity of the Pascual administration which believes that the UP Community has no other choice but to just embrace the flawed and repressive system.

This move of the administration is a mockery of the long-cherished tradition of the university as a bastion of critical and fearless resistance towards policies that infringe on the rights of the students and of the Filipino people.

After the reforms, the STFAP will now be changed to Socialized Tuition System (STS). The STS boasts simplified processing of tuition bracket applications by reducing the 14-page application forms into 2 pages. Efficiency, however, does not necessarily translate to democratic access.

Simplification of the bracket application does not guarantee granted appeals but it merely shortens the agony of the applicants. The STS also promises to increase the monthly allowance for Bracket E2 students from P2,400 to P3,500.

Paradoxically, as the stipend increases, the Department of Chemical Engineering in UP Diliman demands an increase of laboratory fee as high as P850. In the end, the STS is nothing but a deceptive scheme to convince the students

FE ATURES CORRESPONDENTS

Christian Reynan Ibañez Durana, Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari, Angelica Natvidad Reyes, Charlotte Porcioncula Velasco RESIDENT ILLUSTR ATORS

GERALD MIRANDA GOCO

Lizette Joan Campaña Daluz, Mon Gabriel Posadas Distor, Daniel John Galinato Estember, Mark Jason Santos Flores, Gerald Miranda Goco, Princess Pauline Cervantes Habla, Noemi Faith Arnaldo Reyes, Joanne Pauline Ramos Santos, John Zeus Cabantog Taller RESIDENT PHOTOJOURNALISTS

Divide and Rule

Patrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag, Kessel Gandol Villarey RESIDENT L AYOUT ARTIST

Romelyn Taip Monzon

that they have much more benefits from this program, while the truth is the ‘promised’ benefits will be taken away from the students through other means.

The STFAP reforms acceded by the administration resulted to a divided constituency. Many students believe that the ‘revamped’ STFAP is the solution to its flaws and will provide democratic access to UP education. The administration clearly led the students into a false dilemma.

They made it appear that the students have only two choices—to retain the bureaucratic-ridden STFAP, or to approve the “democratic” STS. The students must break through from the deceptive ploys of the administration which conceals the real choice— fighting for greater subsidy for education while asserting that the state provide unconditional and democratic access on education to every Filipino student in all levels.

accessed by the elite.

When an institution is in a state of crisis, we must look back to the original mandate of the said institution. In the case of UP, its mandate is to be the university of and for the people.

The university was established so that Filipinos will have access to free and quality public education.

A divided institution is a weak institution.

The Pascual administration succeeded in manipulating the BOR and the UP community by pitting those who are in favor of the STS, and those who oppose it, therefore creating a forced agreement. The divide and rule tactic of the administration succeeded in encroaching the ideal form of democratic governance—where consensus is reached through intelligent discussions rather than pitting one position against another.

OFFICE

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themanilacollegian@gmail.com WEBSITES

issuu.com/manilacollegian www.facebook.com/themanilacollegian www.twitter.com/mkule themanilacollegian.tumblr.com

MEMBER

College Editors Guild of the Philippines

Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations

The Cover

THIS MOVE OF THE ADMINISTRATION IS A MOCKERY OF THE LONG-CHERISHED TRADITION OF THE UNIVERSITY AS A BASTION OF CRITICAL AND FEARLESS RESISTANCE TOWARDS POLICIES THAT INFRINGE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE STUDENTS AND OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. STFAP and STS are nothing but cover-ups for tuition fee increases that gradually allow the Aquino government to actualize budget cuts in the education sector and further reduce funding for state universities and colleges. The Pascual administration lets education turn into a private good which can only be beneficial and be

One should remember that the university belongs to the students and the masses, not to those few bureaucrats who impose and dictate their arbitrary wills on the students.

Illustration by Deonah Abigail Lugo Miole

OPINION 15

Volume 27 Numbers 12-13 Tuesday | 04 February 2014

NILAY

Leave

John Zeus Cabantog Taller A APAT NA TAON KONG SPILIPINAS, PAMAMALAGI SA UNIBERSIDAD NG isang bagay ang tumatak

hindi lamang sa aking isipan kung hindi maging sa aking puso. Hindi ko naman sinasabing isa lang ang aking natutunan sa apat na taong pakikibaka ko sa samu’t saring hamon na ibinuntong sa akin: problema sa bahay, sa paaralan, sa pagibig, at kung saan-saan pa. Ang malala pa minsan, nagpapatong-patong pa sila. Minsan tuloy, sumusuko na lang ako bigla at sasabihing, “Paulit-ulit na lang. Ayoko na.”

May mga pagkakataon na natatakot tayong tumuloy, sumubok at hamunin ang sarili. Tila mas mabuti na lang na magtago sa comfort zone at huwag nang lumabas. “Baka mabigo na naman ako. Hindi ko naman kaya,” ibubulong natin sa hangin. Ganito ako dati kapag may magbubukas na oportunidad para patunayan ang sarili sa mundo; na may pakinabang naman ako, at may kaya rin naman akong gawin. Sa simula, mapapa-bring it on pa ako. Pero sa bandang kalagitnaan, mapapaurong ka at iisiping baka pumalya na naman at maharap sa kahihiyan.

Ayoko ng ganoong pakiramdam – ‘yung iniisip ng ibang tao na puro kapalpakan ang lagi kong dala, o kung ano-ano pang masasakit na salita o pintas. Iisipin ko na lang, “Sorry naman. tao lang.” Pero nakakasawa rin na puro ganito. Kaya siguro naging mababa ang tingin ko sa sarili at naisip na wala akong kayang gawin. Hindi ko na mabilang sa kamay

ang mga pagkakataong ganoon kaya na rin siguro ako natakot na tumanggap ng kahit anong responsibilidad at kung minsan, kapag may naatas na bagay sa akin, tatanggihan ko na lang dahil baka isipin ng mga tao na nagpapasikat na naman ako.

“

Totoo, hindi makikita sa kahit anong lesson o readings kung paano

SA TOTOO LANG, HINDI NAMAN IBANG TAO ANG NAGDIDIKTA NG LIMITASYON NATIN, KUNG HINDI ANG MGA SARILI NATIN.

makaangkop at makaalis sa ganitong sitwasyon. Totoo nga ang kasabihan na mas maraming matututunan sa labas ng classroom. Hindi ko naman sinasabing hindi na dapat pumasok ng klase – kailangan namang matutunan ang lahat ng tinuturo ng mga professor pero hindi lahat ng kailangang matutunan sa buhay ay matatagpuan sa classroom. Kadalasan, kung ano pa ang nararanasan sa labas ng classroom ay siya pang matitira kapag lumabas ka na ng unibersidad.

Hindi ako nagsisisi sa mga nangyari.

Nagpapasalamat pa nga ako na napagdaanan ko ang lahat ng iyon, dahil

kung hindi, hindi niyo ito mababasa.

Baka nga ako yung naging taong nakikisabay na lang sa agos at hindi man lang alam ang totoong kahulugan ng mga salitang risk o challenge. Marahil ay hindi ako nakaranas ng adventure. Kung hindi ko naranasan lahat iyon, hindi ko mabubuo ang mga katagang ito na pinapaulit-ulit ko kapag may isang malaki, o kahit na maliit na pagsubok akong haharapin.

“Leave yourself behind.”

Ang simpleng kataga na ito ang siyang naging gabay sa aking pamumuhay.

Mula sa maliliit na bagay tulad ng pag-re-recite ko sa klase; hanggang sa malaki, na kung saan maaatasan ako ng isang malaking responsibilidad; sasambitin ko lang ito sa sarili. Dahil alam ko sa sarili kong hindi ko kaya, kaya iiwanan ko muna ang sarili ko para gawin ang imposible. Isang paunawa: hindi siya formula upang pampalakas ng loob. Isang simpleng kataga lang siya na tumutulong sa pagkilala at pagtanggap ng ating mga kahinaan. Ang iba kase, katulad ko, iniisip na lahat ay kayang gawin, kaya kapag nabigo, ang laking dagok sa tingin sa sarili. Sa totoo lang, hindi naman ibang tao ang nagdidikta ng limitasyon natin, kung hindi ang mga sarili natin.

Sa tuwing gagawa ng tingin mong imposible, huwag maging ikaw.

Lagpasan ang limitasyong idinikta ng sarili— leave yourself behind.

RIDE

NBSU*

Lizette Joan Campana Daluz MAY BOYFRIEND KA NA BA?” “Napapailing lang ako sa tuwing

itatanong ito sa akin. Wala akong tinatago. Kapag sinabi kong wala, wala talaga. At wala naman akong problema sa pagtatanong sa akin nito, pero ang nakakainis kasi ay ‘yung kapag sinabi mong wala, sasabihin sa’yo “Aw, bakit?”.

Simula nang makapasok ako sa UP, hindi na ako nagkaroon ng karelasyon o ano man. Okay lang naman sa akin. Sa totoo lang, wala naman talaga akong inaasahang mangyari. Tatlong taon na ko dito sa unibersidad. Masaya ako sa aking kurso, sa aking mga kaibigan, at sa mga organisasyong sinalihan ko.

Masaya ako sa panonood ng mga TV series, pag-drawing, pagbabasa ng libro, at pagta-Tumblr. Hindi ba puwedeng sapat na sa akin ang mga ito? Hindi ba puwedeng magkaiba tayo ng konsepto ng kung ano ang sapat at hindi?

“Wala bang nagkakagusto sa ‘yo?”

Seryoso? Hindi porke’t may gusto ang isang tao sa’yo ay obligado ka nang magkagusto sa kanya. At kung wala, kailangan ko bang mag-alala at gumawa ng paraan para magkaroon?

Inaamin ko na minsan, napapaisip din ako kung bakit nga ba walang nagkakagusto sa akin. Hindi naman ako pangit pero hindi rin ako napakaganda.

Hindi ako bobo pero hindi rin naman ako napakatalino. Hindi ako antisocial pero hindi rin naman ako ganon kafriendly. Mahiyain ako sa mga hindi ko kilala, pero hindi naman sa punto na hindi ko na sila kayang kausapin. May

sense of humor naman ako. Maganda naman ang taste ko sa music. Mabait naman ako. Disente naman akong tao.

Ngunit napagtanto ko na ang problema ay kung bakit ko pinoproblema ‘to. Bakit ko nga ba kailangan kuwestyunin ang sarili ko dahil lang walang may gusto sa’kin? Ganon ba ito kaimportante na kailangan kong magbago o magpanggap? Naniniwala ako sa sarili ko at ang anomang pagbabago ay ginagawa ko para sa ikabubuti ng sarili ko. Hindi ko kailangang gawing batayan ito ng aking pagkatao.

“

HINDI PANGANGAILANGAN ANG BOYFRIEND.

“Masyado ka bang busy?”

Masyado ba akong busy para magkaroon ng boyfriend? Kailangan bang lahat ng free time ko ay para sa pagbo-boyfriend? Sadyang may mga partikular na bagay na mas gusto kong maglaanan ng aking oras kaysa sa pagbo-boyfriend. Okay na sa’kin na ginagamit ko ang oras ko sa panonood Orphan Black o ng American Horror Story, pag-drawing, paggawa ng gifs at pag-Tumblr. Mas okay din sa’kin na para sa sarili ko ang oras ko, na gamitin ko ito upang linangin ang aking mga

kakayahan, matuklasan at maunawan pa ang sarili ko, at payabungin ang relasyon ko sa pamilya at mga kaibigan.

“Hindi ka ba nalulungkot?”

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ito tinatanong. Sa mga kasintahan lang ba makahahanap ng kasiyahan? Ang hindi pagkakaroon ng karelasyon ay dahilan ba para maging malungkot?

Hindi ko maintindihan yung mga taong proud at ang lakas maka-label sa sarili nilang NBSB sila pero puro drama naman na wala silang kayakap sa gabi o walang nagsasabi ng goodnight sa kanila. Dyusko po. Pero mas hindi ko maintindihan yung mga taong sinasabi na SMP sila o kasama sa Samahan ng Malalamig ang Pasko na para bang mas mahalaga na may syota silang kasama sa simbahan kaysa ipagdiwang ang Pasko kasama ang kanilang pamilya at mga kaibigan. Hindi ako nalulungkot dahil single ako. Sa katunayan, marami akong dapat na ikatuwa dito. Wala akong dapat na paggastusan kung hindi ang sarili ko, hindi ko kailangan mag-load palagi, at walang kailangang alalahaning mga bagay tulad ng anniversary, birthday, date, etc.

“Gusto mo ihanap kita?”

‘Wag, please lang.

Hindi pangangailangan ang boyfriend.

Gaano man ka-cliché ang sasabihin ko pero sana mabasa ito ng mga taong nagtanong at magtatanong nito sa’kin.

May oras para diyan, at darating din iyan.

Ipagpatuloy sa Pahina 05

Luisa A. Katigbak

Sunset ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT NO IIS,HAVE MATTER HOW EMPTY A PERSON’S HEART SOMEONE WILL COME ALONG TO SAVE HIM/HER AND FILL THAT VOID WITH REAL EMOTIONS.

“Do you want to come with me on a one-day road trip to Laguna a day after the lantern parade?” This was the unopened message popping up on my Facebook three months ago.

I slapped my face and pinched my arms to distinguish reality from fantasy. I was confused at first because I didn’t know what had gotten into you to ask me. I should have doubted your intentions, but my guts were telling me to trust you wholeheartedly. And for once in my life, my mind let my heart have its own way.

A phone call at 4:00 a.m. snapped me away from my dream. F*ck. You were already outside of my dorm, waiting for me. I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t even look at you.

Instead of being mad at me, you just handed me a cup of Mcdo coffee and hash browns with a shit-eating grin on your face. Damn boy, if you only knew that it was the best morning greeting of my life.

A comforting silence, occasional smiles, and discreet glances enveloped us during the fourhour trip. And surprisingly, you entangled your pinkie with mine as if you were promising me ‘forever’. Without saying anything, I let myself lose in the moment and simply stared at you. I guess when two souls finally found each other, words aren’t needed anymore.

When we arrived at our destination, I discovered one peculiar thing about you: a farm boy. As the truth started to unravel in front of me, the more I realized how humble, true, and old-school you were. You never bragged about your parents’ riches or profession. You’d rather keep in touch with your grandparents, who welcomed me with open arms, by sending a letter or visiting them personally. Just when I thought I couldn’t love you more, you brought me to your childhood tree house beside the stream to prove me otherwise. Everything that happened was still fresh in my mind. You said, “I once read a novel which said that the sunset, which could be too beautiful for words, was the earth’s way of saving the best for last. Perhaps, something or rather someone beautiful could not only make you speechless but also breathless.”

I would always love the sunrise, but at that moment, you made me realize that sunset was the most wonderful thing the earth could ever give. I was watching it with admiration and amazement when suddenly, you gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. Who would have thought a dork, farm boy like you could make a girl’s detached heart somersault? Maybe I wasn’t the broken girl that I thought I was.

On our way back to Manila, you asked me the reason why I love the sunrise so much. I didn’t answer you right away because I wanted to give you a road trip of a lifetime just like what you did for me. I wouldn’t care if it’s a short route or a detour as long as we’re together. I wouldn’t care how far or where as long as it’s a journey straight to your heart.

Every single day, you became my sunrise and made me feel special, free, and alive. You might not be as perfect as any fictional character, but Continued on page 13

CONSTITUTIONAL PARADOX : An Analysis of the 2008 UP Charter

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EGITIMIZED NEGLECT IS THE MOST BLATANT FORM OF ABANDONMENT.

Until 2008, the charter of the University of the Philippines has not been thoroughly revised since the university’s founding in 1908. Former UP President Emerlinda Roman’s administration sought the enactment of a new charter because they believed that the former charter no longer reflected the “realities and challenges” faced by the university. This includes the need for higher funding given the growing number of state universities and colleges (SUCs), as indicated in a briefer of the 2008 Charter.

The 2008 Charter gave the university greater autonomy. But greater autonomy only handed over authority to those who had lesser accountability.

UNCHARTERED IDENTITY: The Triviality of the Nature and Character of a National University

By Ruth Genevieve Austria Lumibao UP is not a state university.

Section 2 of the 2008 UP Charter clearly states that the university is not a state university, but a national university. According to Professor Roland Simbulan of UP Manila Department of Social Sciences, this has drawn much debate on the ability of the university to lobby for greater state subsidy.

The distinction was intentional. While it actually sets apart the university as one of the country’s best institutions of higher learning, it also sets it apart from other state universities and colleges. The administration wanted to draw attention to the autonomy of the university and not to the need for state subsidy. The General Appropriations Act specifically indicates that the recipient of subsidy will be the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). Although debates on the wordplay have subsided, other remaining parts of the 2008 UP Charter allowed the university to enter private ventures and partnerships. In effect, UP no longer had to be solely funded by the government.

The changing character of the university is marked by commercialization and privatization. And even if the administration insists that what is happening is not yet privatization, they admit that presenting the 2008 Charter was a move to begin partnerships with private institutions. The administration, in a briefer for the 2008 UP Charter, admitted that they knew privatization was against the mandate of the university. But even with its generated revenue from partnerships and private ventures, the university continues its ties with the corporate sector.

The UP administration justifies its entry into private ventures by saying that it is the only option left because the government cannot provide full subsidy for the university. By not challenging the government, they undermined the critical stance of the university and relegated UP into being an impassive and subservient institution.

The UP administration has taken advantage of the autonomy of the university. This new status can be compared to the expansion of chartered universities in the U.S. These chartered universities have a certain degree of autonomy from the government, but still receive subsidy though not as much as a state university.

The university is gradually losing its character as its fate is put in the hands of profit-oriented individuals and privatelyrun corporations. The administration has found a way to inhibit itself from receiving subsidy.

The autonomy of UP was given in exchange for its character and the Charter itself provides that basis.

PASSIVE REPRESENTATION: Disregarding the Stakeholders of the University

By Christian Reynan Ibañez Durana The largest stakeholders of the university, the students and the masses, are rendered marginalized by the enhanced corporate outfit of the administration.

This was evident in the utter marginalization of the student body as a proactive stakeholder in the university’s affairs. The deferred BOR resolution last Novermber 28 reflects not only the deliberate intent of the administration to pursue corporatization, but also its persistence to disregard student representation.

Though there is a Student Regent, no enabling authoritative power is conferred to the student body to directly influence every policy outcome for the university. While Section 21 commissioned student councils (college or campus based) and a general assembly of these councils, there is nothing much that the Charter provided as to their functions and responsibilities. Councils were merely accorded with the right to adopt internal rules of governance, but there is no constitutional character that enables these councils to ensure the accountability of the administration.

The corporatization of the university merely relegates students as passive recipients of every directive of the university administration.

The introduction of a consultancy-based approach as the closest form of student participation, while technically compliant to the Charter’s provision on accountability, is not necessarily empowering. Consultations, while an effective part of policy formulation, may or may not be adhered to by the administration since decisions are still

within their discretion. Thus, the students are relegated as passive observers of the policymaking process.

Probing the recent revisions by the BOR on some provisions regarding Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program, the proposed amendments reflected more the measures of the administration’s commissioned review committee, which is to retain a tuition-first enrolment policy. These measures go against the resolutions of larger stakeholders, primarily larger constituent units such as UP Dliman and Los Baños, along with the Justice for Kristel Tejada Alliance— all of which concur to maintain a student’s eligibility to enroll despite having unsettled tuition obligations.

Looking at the composition of the BOR, one noticeable fact is that the BOR appointees by the President of the Philippines take more seats than the student representative (Section 12 of the Charter). This setup contradicts the university’s notion of autonomy. Replacing the 12-member BOR with a more sectoral and larger body, according to the 2004 Charter Committee report, would lead to disenfranchisement.

Ironically, the current centralization of the university led to the university’s increasing thrust towards deregulation, with administrators heavily subservient to the dictates of the

Government.

The student body, the direct representation of the people and the primary stakeholder of the university, is not legally represented and much more, not even legally empowered in the Charter. The only concrete manifestation of their participation is regarding their duties to pay the tuition imposed by the university.

The call for having a sector and community-based policyContinued on Page 13